Introduction to Scientific Method and Environmental Science

Systematic observation and investigation used to discover truth beyond visual appearances.
The scientific method follows a structured progression:
- Observation
- Question formulation
- Hypothesis development
- Experimental testing with controls (e.g., testing freezing points of salty vs. non-salty water)
- Data analysis
- Reporting and conclusion
Utilizes binary evaluation logic ( $0$ or $1$ ) to minimize experimental error.

Psychology: Focuses on the study of the human mind and brain.
Religion: Based on unchallengeable beliefs and rituals that impact life.
Philosophy: Broad domain of knowledge that supports science in gaining acceptance as a source of truth.
Science: Explains natural causes in living and nonliving systems through empirical verification.

Natural Science:
- Physical Science: Studies abiotic environmental components, primarily Chemistry and Physics.
- Biological Science: Includes plant science, natural science, and microbiology.
- Mycology: Study of fungus.
- Psychology: Study of algae.
Social Science: Applies scientific verification methods to study human society, including Sociology, Political Science, International Relations, and Anthropology.

Objectivity: Free from personal bias, emotion, or subjective human intention.
Repeatability: Identical procedures produce identical results regardless of location (e.g., electrical splitting of water consistently yields oxygen and hydrogen).
Instrumentation: Uses scientific instruments and standardized measurement units to ensure objective results.

Purpose: Evaluates repetitive measurements, quantitative data, and variable relationships to manage error.
Univariate Statistics: Focuses on a single variable across subjects (e.g., student height).
Bivariate Statistics: Analyzes relationships between two variables:
- Independent Variable: The initial measured variable (e.g., height).
- Dependent Variable: The variable changing in response to the independent variable (e.g., weight calculated from height).
Multivariate Statistics: Evaluates a single dependent variable influenced by multiple independent variables (e.g., height, family background, and dietary habits determining weight), essential for realistic modeling and simulation.
Data Classification: Four basic data classes comprising two qualitative types and two quantitative types.

Scientific Conferences: Forums where scientists present new findings to peers.
Peer Review: Evaluation of scientific papers by fellow researchers prior to publication.

Physics: Explains physical processes driving environmental change.
Chemistry: Examines the origin, transformation, and fate of pollutants.
Biology: Analyzes ecological processes, species interactions, and environmental impacts on organisms.
Geology: Studies internal Earth processes, volcanism, weathering, and sedimentation.
Geography: Investigates surface processes of the Earth.
Mathematics and Statistics: Enables predictive modeling, simulation, and informatics over historical periods (e.g., $30\, \text{years}$ of data) and large spatial areas.

Resource Allocation: All resources are linked to land; per capita land represents per capita resources.
Population Density: Calculated by dividing population size by land area. High density introduces biological, health, and epidemiological risks.
Resource Assessment Task: Environmental analysis of population doubling within the state of Georgia requiring a $150$ to $200\, \text{words}$ response submitted by September 6.

Prompt: What is science?
- Response: Science is a systematic observation and investigation.
Prompt: Why does lake water freeze during heavy winter while seawater does not?
- Response: Salt content in seawater prevents it from freezing under standard freezing conditions.
Prompt: What is peer review?
- Response: The process where a scientific paper written by one scientist is reviewed and checked by another scientist.