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Advanced Placement Environmental Science in the 21st
Century
Mark SimcoeScience Department Faculty
Saint Ursula AcademyCincinnati, Ohio
The AP Environmental Science Course
One semester (block schedule) science elective offered to juniors and seniors
Prerequisites: biology & chemistry
Students take the College Board AP environmental science exam in May
Interdisciplinary course – besides science, draws on elements of economics, sociology, history, political science, and more
What is Environmental Science?
1. Study of how the natural world works (i.e. ecology)
Eg biogeochemical cycles, species interactions
2. How humans interact with the natural world Eg water and land usage, atmosphere, energy
3. Problems that arise from these interactions Eg water pollution & misuse, agricultural issues,
deforestation, air pollution, climate change
4. Solutions to those problems
Methods Used in this Course
Most students find that while there is a lot of information, the information is not difficult to understand
Allows for use of flipped classroom Technology play a major role- all students have tablet PCs No note taking in class- students read & look at notes at
home Frees up class time immensely
Class time is spent doing labs, activities, watching films, student research and presentation Strong emphasis on students teaching/presenting to each
other on specific topics My goal: variety
students never know exactly what to expect each day
Why is this class important for students today more than ever?
There are two problems for our species' survival - nuclear war and environmental catastrophe - and we're hurtling towards them. Knowingly. --Noam Chomsky
It's (climate change) the biggest issue the planet has ever faced. --Bill McKibben
It's obvious that the key problem facing humanity in the coming century is how to bring a better quality of life - for 8 billion or more people - without wrecking the environment entirely in the attempt. --E.O. Wilson
Why is this class important for students today more than ever?
No longer a field for “hippies” or “tree huggers”Problems we are facing today are present now,
immediate, and unavoidable. For example: First 8 months of 2012 were the hottest in recorded U.S.
history More elephants were poached last year than any year
since the global ivory trade ban in 1989 Half of the Great Barrier Reef was lost in past 27 years FDA has continuously rejected a ban on BPA in food
packaging Roughly only 50% (and falling) of world’s rainforests
remain
“Controversy” that the class presents
“A lot of these issues can be politically sensitive.”
“I don’t believe in global warming.”
Science operates outside the realm of politics.Science is not about ideology or belief.Scientists base ideas on data, evidence, and
experimentation.
The politicization of environmental issues
What are the Major Issues Today?
Although numerous, the 3 top environmental issues today are:
1. Human population growth Surpassed 7 billion in 2011 Most of this growth occurring in developing countries
that lack resources to handle growth India expected to surpass China in population by end
of this decade How do we provide resources for all of these people?
What are the Major Issues Today?
2. Issues of water 70% of world’s water used for agriculture, 20% for
industry, 10% for human use/consumption Depletion of water reserves/aquifers is a fast growing
problem Eg Ogallala aquifer in central U.S. Loss of water reserves in the form of melting mountain
glaciers Eg Himalayas
Water pollution remains a major problem worldwide Increased concern for nonpoint pollution sources
What are the Major Issues Today?
3. Climate Change Many consider this the largest environmental problem
today Also considered the largest threat to humanity
Global warming is only one aspect of climate change
How is Climate Change Occurring?
The natural greenhouse effect of Earth Sun’s energy travels down and reflects off Earth’s
surface Infrared radiation (heat) encounters greenhouse gases
(CO2, H2O, CH4, N2O) in atmosphere Heat is then reflected back to Earth, becomes trapped
in atmosphere Greenhouse gases serve as blanket that traps in Sun’s
heat Without natural greenhouse effect, Earth would be
uninhabitable
How is Climate Change Occurring?
Humans are increasing greenhouse effect by increasing amount of greenhouse gases in atmosphere Release of methane and nitrous oxide through agriculture
and other activities Deforestation – less carbon dioxide absorbed from
atmosphere Burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide levels have risen since industrial revolution Humans have never seen carbon dioxide levels this high CO2 levels in September 2012 were at 391 ppm Correlation between CO2 and average global temperatures is
clear
What are the Effects of Climate Change?
Global average temperatures are approximately 0.8 degrees Celsius higher than pre industrial times 2 degrees C is considered the tipping point
What are the Effects of Climate Change?
Changes in global water cycle Increased drought and wildfire Major effects on agriculture Increased deforestation Decrease in snow, ice pack
Loss of Arctic sea ice Loss of animal habitat Will greatly affect planet’s weather
What are the Effects of Climate Change?
Increase in heat waves 2012 could be the hottest year on record
Ocean acidification, ocean warming, sea level rise Less dissolved oxygen in ocean, coral reef bleaching Major threats to island nations, low lying countries
Major effects on global economy, environmental refugees
Positive Feedback Loops
Are not necessarily a good thingWith climate change, effects produced by warmer
climate feed back to produce even warmer climate
This causes a domino or snowballing effect where problem gets worse and worse
Changes in climate can cause runaway effect where they are irreversible and perhaps unstoppable Examples include albedo in the Arcitc, release of carbon
dioxide from oceans, loss of forests, release of methane from Arctic
Solutions to Climate Problem
1. Decrease deforestation, increase reforestation Will increase amount of carbon dioxide removed from
atmosphere
2. Make transition from nonrenewable carbon-based energy to renewable energy Solar and wind
Eg Harnessing only 20% of world’s wind could generate 7X amount of energy that world currently uses
Must conquer the “environment or the economy” mentality Both can move forward in a positive way
Hope in APES
Study of these topics can lead to overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, negativity Major challenge of teaching APES is instilling
hope and avoiding feelings of hopelessness Must constantly reinforce the idea that we do
have solutions to these problemsChallenge is how to implement the solutions
Hope in APES
What reasons do we have for hope today? People (especially kids) today are more aware &
concerned for these issues than ever before All 3 sections of APES that I teach are full Numerous students after taking APES have decided to
study environmental fields in college Many students have become environmental “warriors”
through this class Technology gives greater connectivity, easy access to
information, collaborative work, and organization of causes & movements
Hope in APES
The world’s youth are awakening to the need for deep transformative change and the fact that its realization will depend on their leadership.
-David C. Korten, economist, author, & educator
Questions? Comments?
Contact me for further information for your own classes or personal knowledge:
