GEE11_Chapter_I - Material 1b about Intro To Envi Sci.pptx

The best fundamental for Intro to Envi Sci.

1. Department of Environmental Science GEE 11- Environmental Science Simplified Material 1b Chapter 1- Part 2 Introduction to Environmental Science

2. Learning Objectives: At the end of the topics, the students must have; Defined environmental science and ecology; Explained the relationship of environmental science with ecology and other fields of discipline; Defined environmentalism and enumerate the various environmental worldviews; Discussed the concept of systems approach in solving environmental problems; and Valued the role of critical thinking skills in the analysis of environmental issues and problems.

3. Environment from French “ environner ”: to encircle or surround refers to all the physical factors (temperature, solar radiation, moisture, soil, nutrients and others) and biological conditions that affect the growth and development of an organism. Circumstances and conditions that surround an organism or group of organisms The environment is the life-support system of all organisms including man. All materials and energy required to sustain life are taken from it. The social and cultural conditions that affect an individual or community

4. Natural world – plants, animals, soils, air, and water Social institutions and artifacts – people create using science, technology, and political organizations Two worlds in understanding the environment;

5. Where earlier people had limited ability to alter their surroundings, we now have power to extract and consume resources , produce wastes, and modify our world in ways that threaten both our continued existence and that of many organisms with which we share the planet.

6. To ensure a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations, we need to understand something about how our world works, what we are doing to it, and what we can do to protect and improve it.

7. Environmental Science ( A review..) “a discipline that attempts to understand and explain environmental issues and tries to find solutions to problems caused by the interaction of human society with the natural world” it is a composite science that draws knowledge from the natural sciences and the social sciences such as economics , political science and sociology.

8. Relationship of Environmental Science with Ecology Ecology is the science studying the relationships of organisms with their environment and with one another ( Odum , 1971 ). The term oekologie was coined in 1866 by the German biologist Ernst Haeckel; the word is derived from the Greek oikos (" household") and logos ("study"); therefore " ecology" means the "study of the household [of nature ]".

9. Relationship of Environmental Science with Ecology What is Ecology ? origin of word: oikos = the family household logy = the study of interesting parallel to economy = management of the household many principles in common – resources allocation , cost-benefit ratios

10. Definition ( Krebs, 1972): “ Ecology is the scientific study of the processes regulating the distribution and abundance of organisms and the interactions among them, and the study of how these organisms in turn mediate the transport and transformation of energy and matter in the biosphere ( i.e., the study of the design of ecosystem structure and function ).” The goal of ecology is to understand the principles of operation of natural systems and to predict their responses to change . Relationship of Environmental Science with Ecology

11. Relationship of Environmental Science with Ecology Ecology is a multidisciplinary science It makes use of knowledge from: Physics Chemistry Geology Geography Mathematics Climatology and Meteorology

12. Relationship of Environmental Science with Ecology Ecology forms the central core of environmental science with man treated not only as a biological organism but also as a social entity. Environmental science involves the application of ecological principles in studying the effects of human activities on the environment.

13. What is an Ecosystem? “An ecosystem can be defined as a relatively self-contained system that contains plants, animals (including humans ), micro-organisms and non-living components of the environment as well as the interactions between them.” SPC (2010) Ecosystems – can be of different sizes and can be marine , aquatic , or terrestrial : Broad categories of terrestrial ecosystems are called  biomes In ecosystems, both matter and energy are  conserved . Energy flows through the system (usually from light to heat) while matter is recycled. Ecosystems with higher biodiversity tend to be more stable with greater  resistance  and  resilience  in the face of  disturbances , disruptive events.

14. What is Ecosystems Ecology ? the study of the interactions among organisms and their environment as an integrated system (Chapin et al. 2002) the study of the movement of energy and materials, including water, chemicals, nutrients , and pollutants, into, out of, and within ecosystems ( Aber & Melillo 2001) Relationship of Environmental Science with Ecology

15. What is Ecosystems Ecology ? Ecosystem ecology is the integrated study of biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems and their interactions within an ecosystem framework. The major unit of ecology is the ecosystem! A major focus of ecosystem ecology is on functional processes which are ecological mechanisms that maintain the structure and services produced by ecosystems. Relationship of Environmental Science with Ecology

16. For Example : How will changing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere affect species composition of vegetation directly or by global warming, how will animal populations be affected by vegetation, and what ramifying effects will these changes have on ecosystems and human lives? Relationship of Environmental Science with Ecology The application of ecological thought to societal problems is one of the important directions in ecology today. It makes people aware of the problems of pollution, overpopulation and environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, global warming, ozone depletion and etc.

17. Simply put , anyone cannot appreciate or arrive at an informed opinion or even decision on such highly politicized environmental issues such as deforestation , biodiversity loss, clean air and water , climate change, and other myriad other issues without a solid grounding on ecological concepts and principles. Relationship of Environmental Science with Ecology

18. Reasons for environmental Ignorance: Science, technology and economics failed to integrate the knowledge on environmental Aspects in the curriculum The decision-makers do not process the environmental Angle of decision making Consideration of economic growth, poverty eradication has led to environmental degradation Only a few developmental activities are made considering the environmental aspects .

19. one key concept in environmental science is INTERDISCIPLINARITY The integration of contributions from various sciences.

20. Environmentalism and Environmental Worldviews Environmentalism is a social movement dedicated to protecting the earth’s life support systems for us and other species (Miller, 2005). Members of the environmental community include ecologists, environmental scientists, conservation biologists, conservationists, preservationists, restorationists , and environmentalists.

21. Environmental Worldview is how you think the world works, what you think your role in the world should be, and what you believe is right and wrong environmental behaviour (environmental ethics). Environmental Worldviews differ over what is more important – human needs and wants , or the overall health of ecosystems and the biosphere ; different worldviews include varying mixes of both priorities. Environmentalism and Environmental Worldviews

22. It is categorized into the following : A. Planetary Management Worldview B. Stewardship Worldview C. Environmental Wisdom Worldview Environmentalism and Environmental Worldviews

23. Worldviews: Planetary Management Worldview This is such an anthropocentric worldview: As the planet’s most important species, we are in charge of Earth’s natural resources ( Humans apart from N ature ) Manage nature to meet our needs and wants Technology will keep us from running out of resources Economic growth potential essentially unlimited Manage earth and life for our benefit

24. Worldviews: Planetary Management Worldview The Aral Sea was an endorheic lake lying between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan which began shrinking in the 1960s and had largely dried up by the 2010s.

25. Worldviews: Stewardship Worldview This viewpoint adds more of an ethical perspective to dealing with the environment: Ethical responsibility to be stewards Probably won’t run out of resources, but don’t waste them Encourage environmentally beneficial economic growth Success depends on managing earth’s systems for our benefit and the rest of nature

26. Worldviews: Stewardship Worldview

27. Worldviews: Environmental Wisdom Worldview This is an earth- centered viewpoint and believed that: We are part of nature Nature exists for all species Resources are limited and shouldn’t be wasted Encourage earth-sustaining economic growth Success depends on learning about nature and integrating ourselves into nature

28. Worldviews: Environmental Wisdom Worldview e.g. This building concept is an example of biomimicry -taking concepts from nature and using them as new technology

29. Environmental Worldviews Environmental worldviews lie on a scale running from more self- and human- centered ( center ) to life-, biosphere- or earth- centered (outer rings). Also, as we move out from the center , from human- centered to more earth- centered worldviews, we tend to value other life forms more for their right to exist than for the products and services they can provide for us.

30. The Systems Approach of Solving Environmental Problems A SYSTEM consists of interdependent parts that make up a whole. Each part has a specific function, yet the expression of the role of the whole system is dependent upon the proper functioning of all other parts. A whole system will fail to function unless it receives an input from the outside on which the system can act to produce a specific output. The components plus their interactions and with the necessary input deliver the specific output which each part cannot do on its own.

31. The whole is greater than the sum of each part

32. The Systems Approach of Solving Environmental Problems In Ecology and Environmental Science, the SYSTEMS or HOLISTIC APPROACH is used in addressing environmental problems. We look at the different natural systems, what their component parts are and how they interact with one another in order to produce the outputs. This approach complements to the interdisciplinary characteristic of environmental science . Compare impacts of natural versus anthropogenic risks to environmental security.

33. The Role of Critical Thinking Skills in Resolving Environmental Issues Instead of linear thinking, CRITICAL THINKING skills should be enhanced to rationally analyse environmental issues and problems to be able to arrive at an informed decisions Critical thinking involves the capacity of a person to distinguish between beliefs (what we think is true) and knowledge (facts supported by observation and valid experimentation) Economic, Political, Historical and Scientific

34. Steps Essential for Critical Thinking Gather all Information Dig deeper Learn all you can before you decide Don’t mistake ignorance for perspective Understand all Terms Define all terms you use Be sure you understand terms and concepts other use

35. Steps Essential for Critical Thinking C. Question how information/facts were derived Were they derived from scientific studies? Were the studies well-conceived and carried out? Were there an adequate number of subjects? Was there a control and an experimental group? Has the study been repeated successfully? Beware of anecdotal information.

36. Steps Essential for Critical Thinking D. Question the Source Does the source have an instrument in the outcome of the issue? Is the source biased? Do underlying assumptions affect the viewpoint of the source? E. Questions the conclusion Do the facts support the conclusion? Correlation does not necessarily mean causation.

37. Steps Essential for Critical Thinking F. Tolerate Uncertainty Hard and fast answer are not always possible Learn to be comfortable with not knowing E. Examine the Big Picture Study the whole system Look for hidden causes and effects Avoid simplistic thinking Avoid dualistic thinking

38. It is a logical sequence of thought or processes and activities designed to gather information and test ideas Scientific Method Define or state a problem/question Formulate hypothesis Collect data -Qualitative (perceived by the senses such as color, texture, taste, gender, etc.) -Quantitative (numerical data such as weight, height, age, etc.) Test the hypothesis Formulate a conclusion or generalization

39. In every deliberation, we must consider our impact on the next seven generations. - The Iroqouis Confederacy