© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. AP Environmental Science Mr. Grant Lesson 4 An Introduction to...
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© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. AP Environmental Science Mr. Grant Lesson 4 An Introduction to Environmental Science The Nature of Science & Sustainability and Our Future
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© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Define the terms abiotic factors and biotic factors. Abiotic Factor - A non- living chemical or physical factor in the environment, such as soil, pH, forest fire, etc. Biotic Factor - A factor created by a living thing or any living component within an environment in which the action of the organism affects the life of another organism, for example a predator consuming its prey.
Transcript of © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. AP Environmental Science Mr. Grant Lesson 4 An Introduction to...
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
AP Environmental Science
Mr. GrantLesson 4
An Introduction to Environmental
ScienceThe Nature of
Science &
Sustainability and Our Future
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Objectives:
• Define the terms abiotic factors and biotic factors.• Understand the scientific method and the process of science.• Diagnose and illustrate some of the pressures on the global
environment.• Articulate the concepts of sustainability and describe campus
sustainability efforts.• TED - Worldchanging.com founder Alex Steffen argues that
reducing humanity’s ecological footprint is incredibly vital now, as the western consumer lifestyle spreads to developing countries.
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Define the terms abiotic factors and biotic factors.• Abiotic Factor - A non-
living chemical or physical factor in the environment, such as soil, pH, forest fire, etc.
• Biotic Factor - A factor created by a living thing or any living component within an environment in which the action of the organism affects the life of another organism, for example a predator consuming its prey.
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Understand the scientific method and the process of science.
The scientific process is part of a larger process…
Science is a systematic process for learning about the world and testing our understanding of it
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
We test hypotheses in different ways…
Hypothesis-driven science = targeted research. Experiments test hypotheses using the scientific method
Observational (descriptive) science = information is gathered about organisms, systems, processes, etc.
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Diagnose and illustrate some of the pressures on the global environment.
Rising population and intensifying resource consumption magnify human impact on the environment
add more than 200,000 people to the planet each day
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Human activities have diverse impactsindustrial agriculture and fossil fuel are having diverse impacts
air and water pollution
habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss
resource depletion
climate change
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Ecological footprints are not all equal
The 20 wealthiest nations have 55 times the income of the 20 poorest nations
The ecological footprints of countries vary greatly
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Humans have changed the Earth’s landscape
Agriculture, urban sprawl, and other land uses have substantially affected most of the landscape of all nations
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
We face challenges in agriculture
Crop production
Meat production
Technology expanded food production… one of humanity’s greatest achievements.
Chemical fertilizers and pesticides
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
We face challenges in pollutionSince the Industrial Revolution, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have risen by 39%, to the highest level in 800,000 years
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
We face challenges in biodiversity
Biodiversity loss may be our biggest problem; once a species is extinct, it is gone forever
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
The Millennium Ecosystem AssessmentIn 2005, 2000 of the world’s leading scientists from 100 nations reported
1) Humans have drastically altered ecosystems
2) These changes have contributed to human well-being and economic development
3) Environmental degradation could get much worse
4) Degradation can be reversed, but it requires work
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Our energy choices will affect our future
We have used up ½ of the world’s oil supplies; how will we handle this imminent fossil fuel shortage?
Our lives are dependent on fossil fuels
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Are things getting better or worse?
Cornucopians…human ingenuity will solve any problem
Cassandras…predict doom and disaster
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Articulate the concepts of sustainability and describe campus sustainability efforts.
We are striving to develop sustainable solutions to our environmental challenges.
Renewable energy and efficiency
Organic agriculture
Legislation and technology to reduce pollution
Protect species and their habitat
Recycling, decreasing waste
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Will we develop in a sustainable way?
We must make an ethical commitment to current and future generations
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
TED Video
Alex Steffen Sees A Sustainable Future (17:31)
Alex Steffen is cofounder and executive editor of WorldChanging.com, an online clearinghouse of information and inspiration on the environment.
“I think better things are on the way.”
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Alex Steffen Sees A Sustainable Future …
You know, that it's not just enough to survive. We've got to make something better than what we've got. And I think that we will. Just to wrap up, in the immortal words of H.G. Wells ,I think that better things are on the way. I think that, in fact, that "all of the past is but the beginning of a beginning. All that the human mind has accomplished is but the dream before the awakening ."I hope that that turns out to be true. The people in this room have given me more confidence than ever that it will.
