Introduction to Environmental Science Chapter 2 – Tools of Environmental Science

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Introduction to Environmental ScienceChapter 2
Tools of Environmental Science
The word science comes from the Latin word scire,
meaning to know
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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

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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

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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?

http//www.ted.com/talks/beau_lotto_optical_illusi
ons_show_how_we_see.html
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Observations
Make some observations from this photo
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Make some observations
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Observation
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Observation
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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?

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Hypothesis
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Hypothesis
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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?

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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

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Correlation

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

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Collecting Data
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Collecting Data
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Drawing Conclusions
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Repeating Experiments
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Communicating Results
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What does this model show us about how mercury
gets to humans?
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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
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Habits of a Scientist

• Curiosity
• Skepticism
• Openness to New Ideas
• Intellectual Honesty
• Imagination and Creativity

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What is going on here?
1999 Earthquakes in yellow
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(No Transcript)
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How can we use scientific methods to study our
impacts on the environment?
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Environmental ethics is the application of
ethical standards to the relationship between
humans and the environment. Anthropocentrism
Humans and human welfare most important Biocentris
m 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
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Statistics Models

• Statistics is the collection and classification
  of data that are in the form of numbers.

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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

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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.

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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 repreent the way a
  system or process works

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Physical Model
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Graphical Model
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Conceptual Model
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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.

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Making Informed Decisions

• Decision Making Model

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Making Informed Decisions