Environmental Science Overview

Environmental Science

Definition and Scope

• Environmental Science: interdisciplinary field studying the natural world and human impact on the environment
• Examines the relationships between human systems and the natural environment
• Draws from biology, chemistry, physics, geography, and social sciences

Key Concepts

• Ecosystems: communities of living and non-living components interacting in a specific environment
• Biodiversity: variety of species, genes, and ecosystems in an environment
• Ecological Footprint: measure of human impact on the environment based on resource consumption and waste production
• Sustainability: meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs

Environmental Issues

• Climate Change: long-term warming of the planet due to increased greenhouse gases
• Air and Water Pollution: contamination of the atmosphere and water resources
• Deforestation and Land Degradation: clearance of forests and degradation of land quality
• Conservation Biology: preserving and protecting threatened and endangered species

Environmental Management

• Sustainable Development: balancing economic, social, and environmental needs
• Environmental Policy: government regulations and laws protecting the environment
• Environmental Impact Assessment: evaluating the potential effects of projects on the environment
• Ecosystem Services: benefits provided by functioning ecosystems (e.g., air and water purification)

Careers in Environmental Science

• Environmental Consultant: assessing and mitigating environmental impacts of projects
• Conservation Biologist: preserving and protecting threatened and endangered species
• Sustainability Specialist: developing sustainable practices and policies for organizations
• Environmental Scientist: researching and addressing environmental issues

Environmental Science

Definition and Scope

• Interdisciplinary field studying the natural world and human impact on the environment
• Examines relationships between human systems and the natural environment
• Draws from biology, chemistry, physics, geography, and social sciences

Key Concepts

Ecosystems

• Communities of living and non-living components interacting in a specific environment

Biodiversity

• Variety of species, genes, and ecosystems in an environment

Ecological Footprint

• Measure of human impact on the environment based on resource consumption and waste production

Sustainability

• Meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs

Environmental Issues

Climate Change

• Long-term warming of the planet due to increased greenhouse gases

Air and Water Pollution

• Contamination of the atmosphere and water resources

Deforestation and Land Degradation

• Clearance of forests and degradation of land quality

Conservation Biology

• Preserving and protecting threatened and endangered species

Environmental Management

Sustainable Development

• Balancing economic, social, and environmental needs

Environmental Policy

• Government regulations and laws protecting the environment

Environmental Impact Assessment

• Evaluating the potential effects of projects on the environment

Ecosystem Services

• Benefits provided by functioning ecosystems (e.g., air and water purification)

Careers in Environmental Science

Environmental Consultant

• Assessing and mitigating environmental impacts of projects

Conservation Biologist

• Preserving and protecting threatened and endangered species

Sustainability Specialist

• Developing sustainable practices and policies for organizations

Environmental Scientist

• Researching and addressing environmental issues

Simple Machines

Levers

• Rigid bar or beam that pivots around a fixed point (fulcrum) to amplify force and make it easier to lift or move heavy objects
• Three types of levers:
  • First-class lever: fulcrum between effort and load
  • Second-class lever: load between effort and fulcrum
  • Third-class lever: effort between load and fulcrum

Pulleys

• Wheel with a grooved rim and a rope or cable wrapped around it to change the direction of force
• Two types of pulleys:
  • Fixed pulley: attached to a fixed point, changes direction of force
  • Movable pulley: attached to the load, amplifies force

Wheels And Axles

• Circular object that rotates around a fixed axis to reduce friction and make it easier to move objects
• Examples of applications: bicycle wheels, gears, and windmills

Screws

• Spiral ridge that converts rotary motion into linear motion to amplify force
• Examples of applications: screwdrivers, jar lids, and spiral staircases

Inclined Planes

• Flat surface tilted at an angle to reduce the force needed to lift or move objects
• Examples of applications: ramps, stairs, and ladders

Explore the interdisciplinary field of environmental science, which studies the natural world and human impact on the environment. Learn about ecosystems, biodiversity, and more.