understanding our environment frameworks for understanding: science, systems, and ethics matter,...

Understanding Our EnvironmentUnderstanding Our Environment

Frameworks for Understanding: Frameworks for Understanding: Science, Systems, and EthicsScience, Systems, and Ethics

Matter, Energy, and LifeMatter, Energy, and Life

Environmental Science 2Environmental Science 2

Important DefinitionsImportant Definitions

Environment: the living and non-Environment: the living and non-living surroundings throughout Earth.living surroundings throughout Earth.

Environmental Science: the study of Environmental Science: the study of our environment and our place in it.our environment and our place in it.

Some Origins of InterestSome Origins of Interest

1.1. Resource Resource conservationconservation

2.2. Moral/aesthetic Moral/aesthetic preservationpreservation

3.3. Concerns about Concerns about human health human health and ecological and ecological damagedamage

4.4. Global Global environmental environmental citizenshipcitizenship

U.S.A. History of Environmentalism U.S.A. History of Environmentalism through Conservation, and through Conservation, and

PreservationPreservation Conservation:Conservation:

• Teddy Roosevelt – Progressive Movement, Teddy Roosevelt – Progressive Movement, Presidency, and National Forest EstablisherPresidency, and National Forest Establisher

• Gifford Pinchot – Forester, Presidential Advisor, Gifford Pinchot – Forester, Presidential Advisor, National Forest Establishment LeaderNational Forest Establishment Leader

Preservation:Preservation:• John Muir – Naturalist, Activist, Resource John Muir – Naturalist, Activist, Resource

Management Specialist, Sierra Club President, Management Specialist, Sierra Club President, California National Park Establisher California National Park Establisher

• Aldo Leopold – Botanist, Author, Wilderness Aldo Leopold – Botanist, Author, Wilderness Society Founder Society Founder

Concerns via Modern Science, Organizations, Concerns via Modern Science, Organizations, and Mediaand Media• Rachel Carson – Biologist, Author, ActivistRachel Carson – Biologist, Author, Activist• David Brower – Director of Sierra Club, Friends of David Brower – Director of Sierra Club, Friends of

the Earth, Earth Island Institutethe Earth, Earth Island Institute• Barry Commoner – Scientist, Researcher, ActivistBarry Commoner – Scientist, Researcher, Activist

Global Eco/Socio-Cultural CitizenshipGlobal Eco/Socio-Cultural Citizenship• Dr. Wangari Maathai – Green Belt Movement, Dr. Wangari Maathai – Green Belt Movement,

Grassroots Feminist, Governance in Ministry Grassroots Feminist, Governance in Ministry (Kenya), Nobel Peace Prize Recipient(Kenya), Nobel Peace Prize Recipient

U.S.A. History of Environmentalism U.S.A. History of Environmentalism through Conservation, and through Conservation, and

PreservationPreservation

More Significant EnvironmentalistsMore Significant Environmentalists

Randy Morganson – Forest Ranger and Randy Morganson – Forest Ranger and Yosemite/Kings/Sequoia Expert, Yosemite/Kings/Sequoia Expert, Mysterious Sierra Nevada DisappearanceMysterious Sierra Nevada Disappearance

Al Gore – Vice President, Author, Global Al Gore – Vice President, Author, Global Warming ProponentWarming Proponent

Dr. Shawna Dark – CSUN Professor, Dr. Shawna Dark – CSUN Professor, Biogeographer, Leader of Watershed Biogeographer, Leader of Watershed Research in Ventura and Los Angeles Research in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties Counties

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GlobalizationGlobalization The exchange of people, information, and The exchange of people, information, and

things… all over the planet.things… all over the planet.

• The Good: human migration and interaction, The Good: human migration and interaction, advancements in education and healthcare, better advancements in education and healthcare, better standards of living, diversity and freedom…standards of living, diversity and freedom…

• The Bad: rural resource extraction, international trade of The Bad: rural resource extraction, international trade of goods away from suffering native populations, industrial goods away from suffering native populations, industrial operations resulting in pollution, global warming…operations resulting in pollution, global warming…

• The Ugly:The Ugly:

Sustainability: the path to Sustainability: the path to “The Good”“The Good”

Living within the bounds of nature Living within the bounds of nature based on renewable resources used based on renewable resources used in ways that don’t deplete in ways that don’t deplete nonrenewable resources, harm nonrenewable resources, harm essential ecological services, or limit essential ecological services, or limit the ability of future generations to the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.meet their own needs.

Science: knowledge production Science: knowledge production through logical processesthrough logical processes

Related terms:Related terms:• accuracy, reproducibility, reasoning, accuracy, reproducibility, reasoning,

hypothesis, and theoryhypothesis, and theory

Scientific method Scientific method 1.1. Question/purposeQuestion/purpose2.2. Hypothesis/educated guess Hypothesis/educated guess 3.3. Data collection/experimentationData collection/experimentation4.4. Results analysis/answerResults analysis/answer5.5. Report theory/review Report theory/review 6.6. Publish findings/implementPublish findings/implement

Consensus and ConflictConsensus and Conflict

Agreement vs. DissentAgreement vs. Dissent

Paradigm: a model that provides a framework Paradigm: a model that provides a framework for interpreting observations.for interpreting observations.

Paradigm shift: the adoption of an innovative Paradigm shift: the adoption of an innovative understanding of some phenomena and/or understanding of some phenomena and/or processes, based on updated scientific processes, based on updated scientific research and new conclusions embraced by research and new conclusions embraced by the scientific majority. the scientific majority. • Predominant theoriesPredominant theories

Fusion Powering the SunFusion Powering the Sun Evolution of SpeciesEvolution of Species Modern Climate ChangeModern Climate Change

Environmental EthicsEnvironmental Ethics

ValueValue

Intrinsic vs. ExtrinsicIntrinsic vs. Extrinsic

Environmental JusticeEnvironmental Justice(Progressive Worldviews)(Progressive Worldviews)

Civil Rights + Environmental ProtectionCivil Rights + Environmental Protection = A Safe, = A Safe, Healthy, Life-giving Environment for Everyone Healthy, Life-giving Environment for Everyone

Diversity, Tolerance, EquityDiversity, Tolerance, Equity

People/Places Benefiting: People/Places Benefiting: • Americans (U.S.A), Australians (Australia), South Africans Americans (U.S.A), Australians (Australia), South Africans

(South Africa)…(South Africa)… People/Places In Need: People/Places In Need:

• Sudanese (Sudan), Korean (North Korea), Iranian (Iran)…Sudanese (Sudan), Korean (North Korea), Iranian (Iran)…

ConnectionsConnections

““When one tugs at a single thing in When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” - John Muirrest of the world.” - John Muir

Interrelationships:Interrelationships:• MatterMatter• EnergyEnergy

• LifeLife

DefinitionsDefinitions Matter: everything that takes up Matter: everything that takes up

space and has mass (weight).space and has mass (weight). Energy: the ability to do work Energy: the ability to do work

(movements, transfers, and so on).(movements, transfers, and so on).

CyclesCycles Life - food chains, food webs, and Life - food chains, food webs, and

trophic levels:trophic levels:• ProducersProducers

Biomass index (productivity)Biomass index (productivity)

• ConsumersConsumers Herbivores, Carnivores, Omnivores…Herbivores, Carnivores, Omnivores…

Biological Taxonomy Biological Taxonomy (Latin – Linnaean Hierarchy)(Latin – Linnaean Hierarchy)

Biological Classifications:Biological Classifications:• Kingdom Kingdom • PhylumPhylum• Class Class • Order Order • Family Family • Genus Genus • speciesspecies

[[Humans]Humans]animalanimal

chordatechordate

mammalmammal

primateprimate

hominidaehominidae

HomoHomo

sapienssapiens

SpeciesSpecies

Organisms occur in groups:Organisms occur in groups:• populations, communities, ecosystemspopulations, communities, ecosystems

Hydrologic CycleHydrologic Cycle

Water…Water…

Cycles ContinuedCycles Continued

CarbonCarbon

NitrogenNitrogen

PhosphorusPhosphorus

SulfurSulfur

Earth Recycling Itself: although energy Earth Recycling Itself: although energy transfer occurs between these cycles, all transfer occurs between these cycles, all

matter is conserved.matter is conserved.

A Dependent Factor for Human A Dependent Factor for Human SurvivalSurvival

The SunThe Sun• Solar Energy is needed to achieve the Solar Energy is needed to achieve the

biotic and abiotic balances (ecosystems biotic and abiotic balances (ecosystems and cycles) for a sustainable future.and cycles) for a sustainable future.

HomeworkHomework Read three chapters of your choice from Read three chapters of your choice from

the following list:the following list:• Chapter 2Chapter 2• Chapter 3Chapter 3• Chapter 4 Chapter 4 • Chapter 5Chapter 5• Chapter 6Chapter 6

Write a brief summary on each chapter Write a brief summary on each chapter you read, including: you read, including: • chapter number/title, single favorite Case chapter number/title, single favorite Case

Study/Exploring Science subsection among the Study/Exploring Science subsection among the chapters, overall questions and/or comments chapters, overall questions and/or comments