Think globally, act locally

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Think globally, act locally

• What are some environmental problems that the
  Earth is facing?
• What are some env. problems that the local area
  is facing?
• Which local problem is part of one of the global
  problems?
• What are some ways to combat these problems?
• Think globally, act locally What does that
  mean?

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Environmental Science

• Understanding our environment

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Environmental Science

• Environmental Science is the study of how humans
  interact with the environment.
• The environment refers to everything that
  surrounds us.
• This includes the natural world and all things
  produced by humans.

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What are our main environmental problems?

• Resource Depletion
• Pollution
• Extinction

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Resource Depletion

• Any natural substance that living things use can
  be considered a natural resource.
• E.g. sunlight, air, water, soil, minerals,
  plants, etc.
• A resource is depleted when it has been used up
  and no more exists.

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Resource Depletion

• There are two type of natural resources
• Nonrenewable resources These are resources that
  can not be replaced.
• Things like minerals (copper) and fossil fuels
  (oil) are examples of these.
• Renewable resources These are resources that
  can be continuously replaced.
• Sunlight and trees are examples of these.

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Resource Depletion

• Renewable resources can be depleted.
• For example, if trees are cut down faster then
  new ones can grow, we would run out of trees.

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Pollution

• Pollution is the introduction of harmful levels
  of chemical waste or waste materials into the
  environment.
• Some pollutants are just the result of chemical
  or mechanical processes (heat and gas).
• Others are manmade chemicals designed for a
  purpose but bad for the environment (pesticides).

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Extinction

• Extinction means that the last individual member
  of a species has died and the species is gone
  forever.
• This is one of the most significant environmental
  challenges we face today.

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A Global Perspective Cause and Effect

• Coal fired electric generators in the Midwest ?
  Acid rain falling on Canada.
• Millions of cars driving world wide and the
  depletion of the rain forest ? global increase of
  Carbon Dioxide.
• Chlorofluorocarbons produced ? Widens the hole in
  the Ozone, allowing more UV rays in

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The Biosphere

• Not the movie with Pauly Shore
• The Biosphere is the thin layer of life around
  the earth.
• The Biosphere is extends from the surface of the
  earth to about 5 miles above and below the
  surface.

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Biosphere
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Developed vs. Developing Countries

• Developed Countries are highly industrialized
  and have citizens with high average incomes.
• The major developed countries are US, Japan,
  Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Western
  Europe.

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Developed vs. Developing Countries

• Developing Countries are less industrialized,
  and their citizens have a much lower income.
• Some developing countries are many of the
  countries in Africa, South America, and Mexico.

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Population and Consumption

• Many environmental problems are linked to
  increasing human populations.
• Increased populations leads to an increased
  demand on natural resources which leads to a lack
  of resources.

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Population and Consumption

• In some places, the populations are growing too
  quickly for the regions to support. This causes
  a population crisis.
• When people use up, waste, or pollute the
  resources faster than they can be renewed,
  replaced , or cleaned up, the result is a
  consumption crisis

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Population and Consumption

• The population crisis is more severe in
  developing countries.
• Human populations grow faster in developing
  countries.
• The consumption crisis is more sever in developed
  countries.
• Populations have leveled or grow slower but the
  people here use more resources than they need.

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Science Plant Demo

• What have you learned about plants in other
  classes?
• What can you tell me about this plant?
  (Observation)
• What wouldnt you know?
• How many times should we water it?
• How much shade does it like?
• What kind of fertilizer is best?
• Dont know? How would you find out?

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Using Science to Solve Environmental Problems

• There are two basic types of science, pure
  science and applied science.
• Pure Science Seeks to answer questions about
  how the natural world works.
• Some examples are Biology and Physics.
• Answers who, what where, and why?

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Using Science to Solve Environmental Problems

• Applied Science uses the information provided
  by pure science to solve problems.
• Medicine and Engineering are examples of these.
• An engineer might use chemistry and physics to
  design a car that runs better

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Where Does Environmental Fit In?

• ES is an applied science.
• Pure sciences used
• Chemistry to understand pollutants
• Biology and Zoology to provide animal and
  extinction information
• Meteorology explains the air and atmosphere.
• Most importantly is Ecology which studies how
  organisms interact with each other and their
  non-living environments.

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What is Science?

• Science is both something you know and do.
• In order to find answers to questions, scientists
  use the Scientific Method which is made up of 6
  steps
• Observation
• Hypothesizing and Predicting
• Experimenting
• Organizing and Interpreting Data
• Sharing Information and Using Graphs
• Communicating Results

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Observing

• All science begins with observation.
• Information gained from observing must be
  carefully recorded so that it can be shared with
  others.

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Hypothesizing and Predicting

• Although observations give us answers to some
  questions, they can also lead to more questions.
• A Hypothesis is a testable explanation for an
  observation.
• Consider the plant

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Experimenting

• In an experiment, a hypothesis is tested under
  controlled conditions
• There are two ingredients for to a good
  experiment A single variable and a control.
• (what does that mean??).
• A Control is a constant factor used in an
  experiment to test a hypothesis.
• A Variable is the changed or changing factor in
  the experiment.

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Organizing and Interpreting Data

• One of the most important parts of doing science
  is sharing what has been learned with others.
• Scientists can use mathematics to determine
  whether their observations or experimental
  results are meaningful or just the result of
  chance or coincidence.
• Statistics are used to determine if the
  difference between results are significant.

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Using Graphs
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Communicating Results

• A scientific article must include
• The question to be answered
• Why the question is important or relevant.
• Background information.
• A precise description of how the work was done.
• The data collected.
• Scientists evaluation of what the data mean.

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Situation

• A major employer is dumping tons of chemicals
  into the Delaware and its ending up in our water
  supply
• How do you recommend solving the problem?
• The company has said that if it is forced to
  clean up, they will move to another country and
  find new employees
• Does this change your first answer?
• List positive and negative results for each
  consequence.

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Making Environmental Decisions

• A sound scientific basis is necessary before any
  action is taken.
• There are also other factors to consider
• Other peoples lives.
• Cost issues.
• Ethics
• Etc.

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Values that effect Env. Decision Making

• Aesthetic what is pleasing to the eye.
• Economic gain/loss of money/jobs.
• Environmental protection of natural resources
• Education gain and use of knowledge.
• Ethics/Morals right or wrong.
• Health prevention of sickness/disability.
• Recreation human leisure activities.
• Scientific increasing unst. of the natural
  world
• Social/Cultural maintaining human communities

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Environmental Decision Making Model

• Step 1 Gather all the available information.
• Read Newspapers
• Read Magazines
• Watch the News
• Talk to those on the inside or those who have
  been in the same situation before
• Basically, know all there is to know

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Environmental Decision Making Model

• Step 2 Consider which values apply to this
  issue.
• Not all of the values will need to be considered
  every time.
• Choose the major ones that apply to your
  particular issues.
• Dont try to fight for too much at once.

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Environmental Decision Making Model

• Step 3 Explore the Consequences of each option.
• Make a pros/cons chart.
• Examine each value that you chose in the previous
  step and see how the pros or cons add up.

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Environmental Decision Making Model

• Step 4 Make your decision.
• Once youve evaluated everything, its time to
  make a decision.

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Consider the Following

• Turn to page 22 in your text book.