Grade 12 Environmental ScienceAssignment 3

Understanding Science, Systems, and Ethics

You have been taking different sciences throughout your school career. What exactly is Science? Think about what you have done in Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. What is the thread that connects all of these “sciences”?

Science is defined as the process for gaining knowledge in a logical manner, as well as the body of knowledge that has been produced over time.

Theories are developed using observations. These observations are tested by many different people. As technology develops many theories are changed, but many have remained the same through the years.

Refer to page 35 of your textbook. Carefully read the 7 “Basic Principles of Science”.

Using these principles we can see how many “scientific facts” reported in newspapers and magazines are not actually scientific. Scientific thinking and observations require testable evidence.

Recall the steps involved in the Scientific Process:

Environmental Science uses the same processes to study the environment. Environmentalism, on the other hand, is involved in changing attitudes or policies that may affect the environment. Scientists need to be objective, need to gather information in a logical way, provide testable evidence about matters such as habitat destruction, extinction, pollution and its risks. It is difficult, in Environmental studies, to be impartial when so many issues are affecting your lives, and the lives of the generations that follow.

Assignment 3due October 6, 2009

1. Read page 34: Case Study: Is Climate Change a Moral Issue? List the arguments for and against this issue.

2. Read pages 34-40 in your text.3. Why are widely accepted, well-defended scientific

explanations called “theories” and not “laws”?4. What are inductive and deductive reasoning? Give an

example in which you have used each one.5. Explain the importance of experimental design to reduce

bias.6. What is your view? Are scientific issues influenced by

politics? Why or why not?