SCIENCE, CULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT Evelyn I. Milian Instructor 2011 UNIT 8 SEMINAR SC300: Big...

SCIENCE, CULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Evelyn I. Milian

Instructor

2011

UNIT 8 SEMINAR

SC300: Big Ideas in Science

SC300: Big Ideas in Science – Unit 8 Seminar

Environmental Science

• Environmental science is: The systematic, scientific study of our

environment as well as our role in it.An interdisciplinary area of study that includes

both applied and theoretical aspects of human impact on the world.

• Environment: The combination of all things and factors

external to an individual or population of organisms.

• Ecology:Study of the interrelationship between

organisms and their environment.2011 Evelyn I. Milian - Instructor 2


Environmental Science

• The field of environmental science involves an understanding of scientific principles, economic influences, and political action.

• Environmental decisions often involve compromise. A decision that may be supportable from a scientific or economic point of view may not be supportable from a political point of view without modification. Other political decisions relating to the environment may not be supported by economic analysis.

2011 Evelyn I. Milian - Instructor 3


Other Basic Terms Related to Environmental Science

Term DefinitionConservation To use in the best possible way so that the

greatest long-term benefit is realized by society.

Preservation Action to keep from harm or damage; to maintain in its original condition.

Ethics A discipline that seeks to define what is fundamentally right and wrong.

Environmental justice

1) A recognition that access to a clean, healthy environment is a fundamental right of all human beings.

2) The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.2011 Evelyn I. Milian - Instructor 4


Basic Terms Related to Environmental Science

• Sustainable Development:Development that provides people with a better

life without sacrificing or depleting resources or causing environmental impacts that will undercut the ability of future generations to meet their needs.



Environmental Science: Humans and Ecosystems

• Ecosystem: All the different organisms (biotic factors) and their nonliving environment (abiotic factors) within a defined area.

• The expanding human population has left relatively few ecosystems undisturbed.

• Human impacts on natural ecosystems are very diverse and wide ranging. (Audesirk, 2005)

• These impacts far exceed the scope of this course.



Environmental Science: Humans and Ecosystems

• Six differences between ecosystems dominated by humans and undisturbed ecosystems are: (Audesirk, 2005)1. Ecosystems dominated by humans tend to be simpler

—that is, to have fewer species and fewer community interactions—than do undisturbed ecosystems.

2. Whereas natural ecosystems run on sunlight, human ecosystems have become dependent on nonrenewable energy from fossil fuels.

3. Natural ecosystems recycle nutrients, whereas human ecosystems tend to lose nutrients.

4. Natural ecosystems tend to store water and purify it through biological processes, whereas human ecosystems tend to pollute water and shed it rapidly.

5. Simple human ecosystems such as farms tend to be unstable, whereas natural ecosystems have many species and tend to remain stable over time.

6. Human ecosystems are characterized by continuously growing populations, whereas nonhuman populations in natural ecosystems are relatively stable.



Why is it important to preserve ecosystems?

• Ecosystems are the home of diverse organisms, and all living things interact with each other in direct or indirect ways. Ecosystems are not self-contained; they have inputs and outputs to the other ecosystems of the biosphere. The entire biosphere is a global ecosystem. Humans are a part of the biosphere and our activities

affect all of its ecosystems. Remember that chemicals are cycled and energy

flows through ecosystems.

• Humans depend on healthy ecosystems for food, medicines, and various raw materials. We also depend on healthy ecosystems for the services they provide, such as recreation and moderation of climate. *** The workings of ecosystems ensure that the

environmental conditions of the biosphere are suitable for the continued existence of humans.



Environmental Ethics and Conflicting Ethical Positions

• “Ethical issues dealing with the environment are especially complex because sometimes it appears that what is good for people conflicts with what is good for the environment. Saving the forest might mean the loss of some logging jobs. While recognizing that there are some real conflicts involved, it is also important to see that it is not necessarily the case that when the environment wins people lose. In a surprising number of cases it turns out that what is good for the environment is also good for people. For example, even when forest protection reduces logging jobs, a healthier forest might lead to new jobs in recreation, fisheries, and tourism. Searching for genuine “win-win” situations has become a priority in environmental decision making.” (Enger & Smith, 2010)



Some Environmental Issues Associated with Human Activities

• Climate change: global warming, sea level rise

• Conservation: species extinction, endangered species, coral bleaching

• Energy conservation, renewable energy

• Land degradation: land pollution, land use, soil degradation

• Overpopulation

• Pollution: air pollution, land pollution, water pollution

• Resource depletion: exploitation of natural resources – over-consumption, over-fishing, deforestation, mining

• Waste management



Worldwide Soil Degradation

• As humans have used the land and its soil for agriculture, grazing, fuelwood production, and forestry, we have had profound effects on the rates at which soils are formed and lost. Removal of the vegetation has accelerated soil erosion so that most of the world is losing soil faster than it is being formed. The degradation is most severe where the need for food is greatest, since starving people are forced to overexploit their already overused soils. The maps and graphs illustrate the magnitude of the soil degradation problem and the relative importance of the causes. (Enger & Smith; 2008)



Deforestation and Soil Degradation


• Deforestation results in soil erosion, silting in of waterways, extinction of species, and disruption of natural cycles.

• Human activities, including overgrazing, deforestation, and poor agricultural practices, reduce the productivity of the land. An expanding human population, coupled with a loss of productive land can lead to tragedy.


Global Warming

• Global warming is a change in average global temperature that could result from the temperature increase owing to the greenhouse effect.

• The greenhouse effect is an increase in atmospheric temperature caused by increasing amounts of carbon dioxide and other gases that absorb and trap heat, which normally radiates away from Earth.Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane,

nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other halocarbons.

These gases allow sunlight energy to pass through the atmosphere but slow the loss of heat from the Earth’s surface; similar to the action of glass in a greenhouse.




Greenhouse Effect. The greenhouse effect naturally warms the Earth’s surface. Without it, Earth would be 33C (60F) cooler than it is today—

uninhabitable for life as we know it.



Since the establishment of a carbon dioxide monitoring station at Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, a steady increase in carbon dioxide levels has been observed.


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FIELD TRIP!!! Seminar Reading Assigned

• For all the discussion of conflicts between science and culture, there are times when science and culture work very well together. One great example of this cooperation took place in the 1990s around the issue of climate change and greenhouse gases. A very large group of well-known scientists and religious leaders from around the United States collaborated on an appeal to convince the U.S. government to do something about our nation’s polluting habits.

• Read the document here: http://www.ecd.bnl.gov/steve/jointappeal.html



Joint Appeal by Religion and Science for the Environment

“Declaration of the ‘Mission to Washington’”

1. What common ground do religious groups and science share in this appeal?

2. In general, what are the common interests of science and religion?

3. It turns out that many scientists are religious believers—how can these two ways of viewing the world work well together?



The Greening of Religion

• “Today, many religious leaders recognize that religions, as enduring shapers of culture and values, can make major contributions to the rethinking of our current environmental impasse. Religions have developed ethics for homicide, suicide, and genocide; now they are challenged to respond to biocide and ecocide. Moreover, the environment presents itself as one of the most compelling concerns for robust inter-religious dialogue. The common ground is the Earth itself, along with a shared sense among the world’s religions of the interdependence of all life.” (Enger & Smith, 2010)





• “We humans are endowed with self-awareness, intelligence and compassion. At our best, we cherish and seek to protect all life and the treasures of the natural world.”

• The “Declaration of the Mission to Washington” talks about how human activities are changing and harming the environment and states that “the magnitude of this crisis means that it cannot be resolved unless many nations work together.” (Joint Appeal; 1992).





• “We believe that science and religion, working together, have an essential contribution to make toward any significant mitigation and resolution of the world environmental crisis.”

• “How will our children and grandchildren judge our stewardship of the Earth?” What will they think of us? Do we not have a solemn obligation to leave them a better world and to insure the integrity of nature itself? Insofar, as our peril arises from a neglect of moral values, human pride, arrogance, inattention, greed, improvidence, and a penchant for the short-term over the long, religion has an essential role to play. Insofar, as our peril arises from our ignorance of the intricate interconnectedness of nature, science has an essential role to play.” (Joint Appeal; 1992).




“Declaration of the ‘Mission to Washington’”• “Differences of perspective remains among us. We do not

have to agree on how the natural world was made to be willing to work together to preserve it. On that paramount objective we affirm a deep sense of common cause.”

• “Despite the seriousness of this crisis, we are hopeful. We humans, in spite of our faults, can be intelligent, resourceful, compassionate, prudent and imaginative. We have access to great reservoirs of moral and spiritual courage. Deep within us stirs a commitment to the health, safety and future of our children. Understanding that the world does not belong to any one nation or generation, and sharing a spirit of utmost urgency, we dedicate ourselves to undertake bold action to cherish and protect the environment of our planetary home.” (Joint Appeal; 1992).



References

• Alters, Sandra; Alters, Brian. (2006). Biology, Understanding Life. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. NJ, USA.

• Audesirk, Teresa; Audesirk, Gerald; Byers, Bruce E. (2005). Biology: Life on Earth. Seventh Edition. Pearson Education, Inc.-Prentice Hall. NJ, USA.

• Belk, Colleen; Borden, Virginia. (2007). Biology, Science for Life. Second Edition. Pearson Education, Inc.-Prentice Hall. NJ, USA.

• Brooker, Robert J.; Widmaier, Eric P.; Graham, Linda E.; Stiling, Peter D. (2008). Biology. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. NY, USA.

• Campbell, Neil A.; Reece, Jane B., et al. (2008). Biology. Eighth Edition. Pearson Education, Inc.-Pearson Benjamin Cummings. CA, USA.

• Cunningham, William P.; Cunningham, Mary A. (2008). Environmental Science, A Global Concern. Tenth Edition. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. NY, USA.

• Enger, Eldon D.; Ross, Frederick C.; Bailey, David B. (2007). Concepts in Biology. Twelfth Edition. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. NY, USA.

• Enger, Eldon D.; Smith, Bradley F. (2010). Environmental Science, A Study of Interrelationships. Twelfth Edition. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. NY, USA.



References

• Joint Appeal by Religion and Science for the Environment; “Declaration of the ‘Mission to Washington’”. (May 12, 1992). Retrieved April 30, 2011 from http://www.ecd.bnl.gov/steve/jointappeal.html

• Mader, Sylvia S. (2010). Biology. Tenth Edition. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. NY, USA.

• Mader, Sylvia S. (2007). Essentials of Biology. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. NY, USA.

• Presson, Joelle; Jenner, Jan. (2008). Biology, Dimensions of Life. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. NY, USA.

• Solomon, Eldra; Berg, Linda; Martin, Diana W. (2008). Biology. Eighth Edition. Cengage Learning. OH, USA.

• Trefil, James & Hazen, Robert M. (2011). The Sciences An Integrated Approach. Sixth Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. NJ, USA.

• Wright, Richard T. (2008). Environmental Science. Tenth Edition. Pearson Education, Inc.-Pearson Prentice Hall. NJ, USA.


SCIENCE, CULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT Evelyn I. Milian Instructor 2011 UNIT 8 SEMINAR SC300: Big...

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