1. The word science comes from the Latin word scire, meaning “to know”
Introduction to Environmental Science Chapter 2 – Tools of Environmental Science
The word science comes from the Latin word scire, meaning “to know”

2. Goals and Objectives
Describe steps that scientists use to solve problems in our environment
Describe how statistics and models are used to solve problems
Use a simple environmental decision-making model

3. What Science IS and IS NOT
Science is an organized way of studying the natural world, and the knowledge gained from such studies (experimental method)
Science assumes that the natural world functions in accordance with rules that do not change.
Science does NOT deal with the supernatural
Science relies on evidence from measurements and observations
Scientific ideas are “supported” not “proven,” and “accepted” not “believed in”

4. How Science Works
In order to satisfy our curiosity about why things are the way they are and about how things happen the way they do, we must…
Make Observations: using our senses and tools to gather information
What are some tools a scientist may use?

5. Observations
Make some observations about this photo

6. Make some observations

7. Observation

8. Observation

9. Hypothesis and Predicting
A testable explanation of an observation that can lead to further investigation
A logical statement about what will happen if the hypothesis is correct
Can you give an example?

10. Hypothesis

11. Hypothesis

12. Hypothesis Cholera is caused by people drinking contaminated water.
Which pump appears to be causing the 1854 London Cholera outbreak?
Spot Map
See patterns in data
How could you test this hypothesis?

13. Collecting Data
To study the hypothesis data are collected and analyzed (experiment)
Conclusions are drawn
Results must be repeatable
Results are communicated
Subject to peer review

14. Correlation Used when experimentation is impossible or unethical
Reliable association between 2 or more events
Not necessarily cause-and-effect relationship

15. Collecting Data

16. Collecting Data

17. Drawing Conclusions

18. Repeating Experiments

19. Communicating Results

20. Community Analysis and Feedback – Peer Review
Present their work and get feedback from other researchers at conferences
Write papers about their study
Submit papers for publication in a journal

21. Habits of a Scientist Curiosity Skepticism Openness to New Ideas
Intellectual Honesty
Imagination and Creativity

22. What is going on here?
1999 Earthquakes in yellow

24. How can we use scientific methods to study our impacts on the environment?

25. Environmental ethics is the application of ethical standards to the relationship between humans and the environment.
Anthropocentrism: Humans and human welfare most important
Biocentrism: All living things have value; some may be more important than others
Ecocentrism: Well-being of a species or community more important than that of an individual

26. Statistics & Models
Statistics is the collection and classification of data that are in the form of numbers.

27. Probability, Sample & Risk
Probability – the chance that something will happen
Sample – group of individuals or events chosen to represent the population
Risk – probability of an unwanted outcome

28. Thinking About Risk
The most important risk we consider is the risk of death.
Most people overestimate the risk of dying from sensational causes, such as plane crashes, but underestimate the risk from common causes, such as smoking.
Likewise, most citizens overestimate the risk of sensational environmental problems and underestimate the risk of ordinary ones.

29. Models Physical – 3d models you can touch
Graphical – used to show things (maps, charts)
Conceptual – verbal or graphical explanation of how a system works or is organized
Mathematical – equations that represent the way a system or process works

30. Physical Model

31. Graphical Model

32. Conceptual Model

33. What does this model show us about how mercury gets to humans?

34. Mathematical Model
I = PAT is the lettering of a formula put forward to describe the impact of human activity on the environment
I = P × A × T
In words:
Human Impact (I) on the environment equals the product of P= Population, A= Affluence, T= Technology
This describes how our growing population, affluence, and technology contribute toward our environmental impact.

35. Making Informed Decisions
Decision Making Model

36. Making Informed Decisions