1.02 - What is Environmental Science?

Describe what distinguishes the difference between biotic and abiotic factors.

Abiotic: the nonliving parts of an ecosystem Biotic: factors in an environment relating to, caused by, or produced by living organisms. Organisms (dead or alive) are considered biotic factors beterm-29cause they are derived from livinterm-30g matter.

Replicable

Empirical evidence can be replicated, or reproduced, and verified by other scientists if they conduct the same tests under the same conditions. Scientific explanations should be based on logical reasoning.

Flexible

Environmental science is a forever changing body of knowledge as new observations are made through experimentation. As new information is discovered, new evidence can add to current evidence, allowing scientists to improve their theories.

Observable

Environmental science is based on empirical observations (an observation verified by experimentation or experience rather than theory). It attempts to explain natural phenomena (observable events and occurrences in nature) by analyzing and observing the world and testing ideas about it.

Testable

Environmental science must be able to answer a testable question using observation and experimentation. Investigations must produce empirical evidence that can be observed or measured to be considered science.

Which career studies Earth's systems and biodiversity? Environmentalist or Environmental Scientist

Environmentalists work to protect the balance between humans and the environment, while Environmental science study the conditions of the environment and how it impacts Earth's systems and biodiversity (the number and variety of species of living things within a given ecosystem or the Earth) Environmentalists can advocate to stop clearcutting forests and destroying ecosystems Environmental Scientists collect data, do research, and share conclusions on the impact of deforestation

Describe how sustainable practices work successfully.

For sustainable practices to work successfully in large environmental systems, like the ocean, environmental monitoring of Earth's resources requires the cooperation of many scientists and organizations, as well as the use of various strategies.

Give two examples of testable questions

How do carbon emissions affect the atmosphere of Earth? Are melting glaciers increasing atmospheric methane? How many people live in an area prone to drought? To what extent has climate changed over the past 100 years? What are the effects of high winds during a hurricane?

Describe each mistake that will lead to bad science in your own words: Bias

If you or the person testing your experiment/ findings bias against it or for it, then you might not get the truth or way to improve or what's wrong. This effects the final results.

Describe a sustainable practice.

Sustainable Practices: the practices, services, and guidelines we develop to protect the environment from our activities. Recycling plastics and reusing materials for something else instead of throwing it away

human activities, biodiversity, water pollution, weather patterns, ocean acidity, food resources, air temperature, wildfires, air composition, air temperature Which are Biotic?

human activities, food resources, and biodiversity

Complete the phrase: The goal of sustainability is

to restore to future generations those things we take from Earth now.

human activities, biodiversity, water pollution, weather patterns, ocean acidity, food resources, air temperature, wildfires, air composition, air temperature Which are Abiotic?

weather patterns, ocean acidity, air temperature, wildfires, air composition, water pollution, and air temperature

Large geographical area. Classified by climate and plant and animal life. Level - 2

A biome is a large geographical area classified by its climate and the plant and animal life within it. Climate is the average weather of an area over an extended period of time. Climate depends on temperature, precipitation, latitude, and altitude.

Area occupied by different groups of interacting organisms. Physical factors are ignored. Level - 5

A community is an area occupied by different groups of interacting organisms. In a community, scientists ignore physical factors (nonliving things) to highlight the relationships among organisms. For example, owls hunt mice in a forest community. The relationship between these two species is important to the rest of the animals and plants that live in the vicinity.

The place where an organism lives. Human destruction of this can lead to extinction. Level - 4

A habitat is a place in an ecosystem where an organism normally lives. A habitat provides the requirements for life, yet not all necessities are living things. The nonliving components of a habitat, like water and sunlight, are important for survival, as well. Scientists study habitats to investigate sudden changes to animal and plant populations. Often, human destruction of habitats is a leading cause of animal and plant extinctions.

Describe each component of the scientific method below in your own words: Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a prediction, or a tentative explanation based on some research or observation. Forming a hypothesis involves creativity to anticipate what will happen because of something else. Hypothesis are made up by using if/then statements. If "this" happens, then "that" will take place. However, a hypothesis can be written without a if/then statement if it can still explain the two variables connect that is being investigated. Example: After some research, you may predict, "If ammonia in the lake water is high, then the lake will emit a strong odor." In other cases, you can consider this as a hypothesis: "Lake water emits a foul odor when additional pollutants are added to the water." Both examples are tentative explanations and allow for variables to be tested and investigated.

Species living in the same geographical area. Species are organisms that can reproduce. Level - 6

A population is a unit of species living in the same geographical area. A species is a group of like organisms that can successfully reproduce with one another. Scientists study populations to learn the influences of a single species on an ecosystem. For instance, the rapid growth of our human population has caused many environmental challenges for the organisms around us.

Key Terms: Jot down terms and definitions that are new to you. You will see them used in the lesson.

Abiotic: the nonliving parts of an ecosystem Biodiversity: the number and variety of species of living things within a given ecosystem or the Earth Biome: a large area with a specific climate Biosphere: includes all living things and the areas in which they live in Biotic: factors in an environment relating to, caused by, or produced by living organisms Community: an area occupied by different groups of interacting organisms Controlled variable: the factors a scientist chooses to keep constant over the course of an experiment Dependent variable: the factor that changes in response to the independent variable in an experiment Ecology: the study of organisms and their environments, including their interactions and their distribution within the environments Ecosystem: all living and nonliving things in an area Habitat: a place in an ecosystem where an organism normally lives Independent variable: the factor the scientist has chosen to change in an experiment Population: a unit of species living in the same geographical area Replication: validation of an experiment by other scientists doing the same experiment and getting similar results Species: a group of like organisms that can successfully reproduce with one another Sustainability: the use of natural resources without depletion of the resources for future generations Sustainable practice: the practices, services, and guidelines we develop to protect the environment from our activities Validity: being logical and supported by evidence Ecology: the study of organisms and their environments, including their interactions and their distribution within the environments

All living things functioning together with physical factors. Does not have a size. Level - 3

An ecosystem includes all living things functioning together with the physical factors of their environment. It does not have a particular size, but an ecosystem could be as small as a tree or as large as an entire forest. The study of ecosystems allows scientists to consider all living and nonliving aspects of an organism's environment during research.

VR: Artificial Reefs - What was the sustainable practice in action under water?

Artificial reefs were made and placed underwater to serve as a structure that supports sea life. Artificial reefs help take the pressure of natural coral reefs that may have been negatively affected.

Describe each component of the scientific method below in your own words: Research

It is important that you explore what scientists before you have observed and discovered. It could help you with your own work, as well as lead you to new questions that need solved answers. Example: you might want to research possible sources of odors found in other lakes. Water testing during previous investigations may provide information on the chemical composition of the water when certain odors are present.

Describe each component of the scientific method below in your own words: Analysis

Once an experiment is complete, the data need to be analyzed to determine if the outcome supports the hypothesis. To do this, scientists interpret the data, create graphs or charts, or even use mathematics to make connections between the variables. The goal is for the scientists to make inferences (a conclusion derived from evidence and logical reasoning) about their experimental data. Once a conclusion is made, you must communicate your results. Conclusion: In the conclusion of a scientific investigation, you are to explain whether the data supports or fails to support the hypothesis. You can also discuss how to use the results to help you do new investigations or improve on ideas. All conclusions must reference the data collected.

VR: Environmental Conservation - What are some skills you have that Jessica Harvey mentioned? What are some skills you hope to improve in your studies?

Patience and able to learn languages are my valuable skills

Describe in your own words and give examples of pseudoscience.

Pseudoscience: a non-science that falsely portrays itself as real science, like numerology and astrology

Describe each component of the scientific method below in your own words: Testing

Testing is combined of collecting, measuring, and recording data from observations made during an experiment. Experimentation allows you to test your hypothesis and determine whether it is correct or incorrect giving you an insight of what the outcome of your experiment might be. Example: to test the ammonia levels of the lake water, you may perform several water tests at the same location in the lake but at varying times of day.

VR: Light Pathway of a Leaf - What is something you learned or found interesting from the video?

That its possible to engineer leaf's, like the artificial leaf and the bionic leaf. And that it its already been done. They recreated the photosynthetic process and 10 times better than photosynthesis as well. They have created something that could save our natural resources and protect the environment.

Describe each component of the scientific method below in your own words: Question

The Question part of the scientific investigation begins with an empirical observation and a question about it. If testable, you can use science to find the answer. Example: For instance, a lake near your home looks clear but smells horrible every morning. Your question might be "What is causing the lake to smell so bad each morning?"

All living things and the areas in which they live. Too large to be researched. Level - 1

The biosphere includes all living things and the areas in which they live. It fills an expanse starting 11,000 meters below sea level and rising 15,000 meters above it. The biosphere is too large an area to research if, for example, one wanted to discover the factors endangering the life of birds in a local grove.

Describe each mistake that will lead to bad science in your own words: No repeats

Without having any repeats, you will never be able to know if your experiment worked. When you see the same result over and over, you can confirm it has succeed or failed, or yet to be determined. Having multiple repeats can reveal what you might what to change in your experiment if you are not correct or have fluctuating results.

Describe each component of the scientific method below in your own words: Variables

The independent variable is the factor the scientist has chosen to change in an experiment. You should only have one independent variable at a time. Example: In the example experiment, the time of day the lake water is tested is the independent variable. The dependent variable is the factor that changes in response to the independent variable in an experiment. Example: In the example experiment, the ammonia level of the water is the dependent variable. Any changes in ammonia levels are dependent on the changes made to the independent variable—the time the sample is collected. Controlled variables are the factors a scientist chooses to keep constant over the course of an experiment. By keeping all other factors constant, anything that happens to the dependent variable is caused only by the independent variable. Example: In the example experiment, factors like collection location and sample materials must be kept constant (controlled variables) to make sure any changes to ammonia levels (dependent variable) relate to sample collection times (independent variable).

Reliable

The more an experiment is repeated with the same outcomes, the more reliable the evidence becomes. Evidence without bias (a prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group) also increases its reliability.

Describe sustainability in your own words.

Using and reusing resources Definition: Sustainability, the use of natural resources without depletion of the resources for future generations

Give two examples of non-testable questions

Which scientists should study extinctions due to climate? Should the use of coal and other fossil fuels be banned? Should mining of phosphates be stopped? Should additional national parks be established? Why do you think the environment is important?

Describe each mistake that will lead to bad science in your own words: No control

Without having any control group to compare your results, you wont be able to know if what you theorize is correct. Control groups are for the sole purpose to observe after the experiment is completed to evaluate the results.

If the question is asking about an ______________ or a _________________, it cannot be measured using a scientific process.

opinion, moral value

Evidence and results from reliable science demonstrate: __________________ & __________________.

replication (validation of an experiment by other scientists doing the same experiment and get similar results) and repetition (a reference to how many times an experiment was conducted; the results of an experiment completed by a scientist only once may not be valid and may possibly contain a flaw in the experimental)

If the answer to the question cannot be____________ and ______________ using a scientific process, it is not considered science.

tested, observed