The word science comes from the Latin word scire, meaning to know
Introduction to Environmental Science Chapter 2 Tools of Environmental Science The word science comes from the Latin word scire, meaning to know Goals and Objectives Describe steps that scientists use to solve problems in our environment Describe how statistics and models are usedto solve problems Use a simple environmental decision-making model What Science IS and IS NOT
Science is an organized way of studying the natural world, and the knowledge gained from such studies (experimental method) Science assumes that the natural world functions in accordance with rules that do not change. Science does NOT deal with the supernatural Science relies on evidence from measurements and observations Scientific ideas are supported not proven, and accepted notbelieved in How Science Works In order to satisfy our curiosity about why things are the way they are and about how things happen the way they do, we must Make Observations: using our senses and tools to gather information What are some tools a scientist may use? Observations Make some observations about this photo Make some observations Observation Observation Hypothesis and Predicting
A testable explanation of an observationthat can lead to further investigation A logical statement about what will happen if the hypothesis is correct Can you give an example? Hypothesis Hypothesis Hypothesis Cholera is caused by people drinking contaminated water.
Which pump appears to be causing the 1854 London Cholera outbreak? Spot Map See patterns in data How could you test this hypothesis? Collecting Data To study the hypothesis data are collected and analyzed (experiment) Conclusions are drawn Results must be repeatable Results are communicated Subject to peer review Correlation Used when experimentation is impossible or unethical
Reliable association between 2 or more events Not necessarily cause-and-effect relationship Collecting Data Collecting Data Drawing Conclusions Repeating Experiments Communicating Results Community Analysis and Feedback Peer Review
Present their work and get feedback from other researchers at conferences Write papers about their study Submit papers for publication in a journal Habits of a Scientist Curiosity Skepticism Openness to New Ideas
Intellectual Honesty Imagination and Creativity What is going on here? 1999 Earthquakes in yellow How can we use scientific methods to study our impacts on the environment? Environmental ethics is the application of ethical standards to the relationship between humans and the environment. Anthropocentrism: Humans and human welfare most important Biocentrism: All living things have value; some may be more important than others Ecocentrism: Well-being of a species or community more important than that of an individual Statistics & Models Statistics is the collection and classification of data that are in the form of numbers. Probability, Sample & Risk
Probability the chance that something will happen Sample group of individuals or events chosen to represent the population Risk probability of an unwanted outcome Thinking About Risk The most important risk we consider is the risk of death. Most people overestimate the risk of dying from sensational causes, such as plane crashes, but underestimate the risk from common causes, such as smoking. Likewise, most citizens overestimate the risk of sensational environmental problems and underestimate the risk of ordinary ones. Models Physical 3d models you can touch
Graphical used to show things (maps, charts) Conceptual verbal or graphical explanation of how a system works or is organized Mathematical equations that represent the way a system or process works Physical Model Graphical Model Conceptual Model What does this model show us about how mercury gets to humans? Mathematical Model I = PAT is the lettering of a formula put forward to describe the impact of human activity on the environment I = P A T In words: Human Impact (I) on the environment equals the product of P= Population, A= Affluence, T= Technology This describes how our growing population, affluence, and technology contribute toward our environmental impact. Making Informed Decisions
Decision Making Model Making Informed Decisions