Ch.1 Terms- Env Sci

environment

all of the living and nonliving things with which an organism interacts

environmental science

the study of how the natural world works, how the environment affects humans, and how humans affect the environment

environmentalism

a social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world-and by extension, people-from the harmful changes produced by humans

natural resource

any of the natural materials and energy sources provided by nature that humans need to survive

renewable natural resources

a resource that is replenished, or renewed over short periods of time

nonrenewable natural resources

a resource that is formed much more slowly than it is used

sustainable

able to meet the current demand for a resource without depleting the future supply

fossil fuel

a carbon-containing fuel formed over millions of years from the remains of living things

ecological footprint

the environmental impact of an individual or population on the earth.

hypothesis

a testable idea that attempts to explain a phenomenon or answer a scientific question

prediction

a statement of what a scientist expects to observe if a hypothesis is true

independent variable

a variable that is manipulated, or changed, in an experiment

dependent variable

the variable that changes in response to the conditions set in an experiment

data

information collected using scientific methods

peer review

the formal process of submitting research for examination by the scientific community

theory

a well-tested explanation of observations and experimental findings

ethics

the branch of philosophy that involves the study of good and bad and of right and wrong

environmental ethics

the application of ethical standards to relationships between humans and their environment

anthropocentrism

A point of view that puts humans and their well-being first

biocentrism

A point of view that states that all living things have value

ecocentrism

A point of view that believes the well-being of a species or community is more important than any one individual

Controlled study/experiment

A study or experiment in which all variables are controlled except for one.