Evaluating Environmental Issues and Disciplines

Core Definitions in Environmental Science

  • Environment:

    • Encompasses all external conditions and factors, both living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic), that affect an organism or a system.

  • Ecology:

    • A branch of life science that studies the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their surrounding environment.

    • Defined as the study of the structure and function of nature.

  • Environmental Science:

    • An interdisciplinary science field encompassing both physical sciences and social sciences.

    • Focuses on three primary analytical goals:

    • Evaluating how the earth works.

    • Evaluating how human actions affect the earth's environment.

    • Developing and evaluating solutions to the environmental problems that are encountered.

Key Roles and Disciplines in the Environmental Field

  • Ecologists:

    • Biological scientists who study the relationships between living organisms and their environment.

  • Environmental Scientists:

    • Professionals who draw upon information from physical and social sciences to:

    • Understand how the earth works.

    • Assess how human activities affect the earth's environment.

    • Develop and evaluate solutions to encountered environmental problems.

  • Conservation Biologists:

    • Multidisciplinary scientists tasked with two primary duties:

    • Investigating human impacts on the diversity of life on Earth (biodiversity).

    • Developing practical, actionable plans for preserving biodiversity.

  • Environmentalists:

    • Individuals concerned with the impact of human activity on overall environmental quality.

    • Hold the belief that specific human actions degrade the earth's life support system.

    • Base their perspectives on scientific information as well as social and ethical beliefs.

    • Represent a broad, diverse demographic encompassing varied economic and political backgrounds.

  • Preservationists:

    • Advocates focused primarily on setting aside or protecting undisturbed natural areas from harmful human activities.

  • Conservationists:

    • Advocates concerned with using natural areas and wildlife in sustainable ways that preserve them for current and future generations of humans, as well as other forms of life.

  • Restorationists:

    • Specialists devoted to the partial or complete restoration of natural areas that have suffered degradation due to human activities.

Key Historical and Public Figures

  • Rachel Carson:

    • Biologist and pioneer who brought environmental awareness to the general public.

  • Ed Begley:

    • Celebrity prominent within the environmentalist movement.

Group Discussions and Practical Assignments

  • Group Discussion on Definitions:

    • Collaborate in small groups to articulate and clarify precise definitions for each of the primary environmental roles: Ecologists, Environmental Scientists, Conservation Biologists, Environmentalists, Preservationists, Conservationists, and Restorationists.

  • Partner Identity Reflection:

    • Pair up with a partner to discuss which specific group or groups among the environmental roles (if any) align most closely with personal views and identity.

  • Research and Submission Task:

    • Select one of the key player groups (noting that individual figures may belong to multiple categories).

    • Conduct research on 2 influential figures within that chosen category.

    • Write a short concise description outlining their specific contributions and what they were known for.

    • Submit the completed written work into the assignment turn-in box.