The word science comes from the Latin word scire, meaning “to know”
-
Upload
donald-norris -
Category
Documents
-
view
245 -
download
0
description
Transcript of The word science comes from the Latin word scire, meaning “to know”
The word science comes from the Latin word scire, meaning to
know
Introduction to Environmental Science Chapter 2 Tools of
Environmental Science The word science comes from the Latin word
scire, meaning to know Goals and Objectives Describe steps that
scientists use to solve problems in our environment Describe how
statistics and models are usedto solve problems Use a simple
environmental decision-making model What Science IS and IS
NOT
Science is an organized way of studying the natural world, and the
knowledge gained from such studies (experimental method) Science
assumes that the natural world functions in accordance with rules
that do not change. Science does NOT deal with the supernatural
Science relies on evidence from measurements and observations
Scientific ideas are supported not proven, and accepted notbelieved
in How Science Works In order to satisfy our curiosity about why
things are the way they are and about how things happen the way
they do, we must Make Observations: using our senses and tools to
gather information What are some tools a scientist may use?
Observations Make some observations about this photo Make some
observations Observation Observation Hypothesis and
Predicting
A testable explanation of an observationthat can lead to further
investigation A logical statement about what will happen if the
hypothesis is correct Can you give an example? Hypothesis
Hypothesis Hypothesis Cholera is caused by people drinking
contaminated water.
Which pump appears to be causing the 1854 London Cholera outbreak?
Spot Map See patterns in data How could you test this hypothesis?
Collecting Data To study the hypothesis data are collected and
analyzed (experiment) Conclusions are drawn Results must be
repeatable Results are communicated Subject to peer review
Correlation Used when experimentation is impossible or
unethical
Reliable association between 2 or more events Not necessarily
cause-and-effect relationship Collecting Data Collecting Data
Drawing Conclusions Repeating Experiments Communicating Results
Community Analysis and Feedback Peer Review
Present their work and get feedback from other researchers at
conferences Write papers about their study Submit papers for
publication in a journal Habits of a Scientist Curiosity Skepticism
Openness to New Ideas
Intellectual Honesty Imagination and Creativity What is going on
here? 1999 Earthquakes in yellow How can we use scientific methods
to study our impacts on the environment? Environmental ethics is
the application of ethical standards to the relationship between
humans and the environment. Anthropocentrism: Humans and human
welfare most important Biocentrism: All living things have value;
some may be more important than others Ecocentrism: Well-being of a
species or community more important than that of an individual
Statistics & Models Statistics is the collection and
classification of data that are in the form of numbers.
Probability, Sample & Risk
Probability the chance that something will happen Sample group of
individuals or events chosen to represent the population Risk
probability of an unwanted outcome Thinking About Risk The most
important risk we consider is the risk of death. Most people
overestimate the risk of dying from sensational causes, such as
plane crashes, but underestimate the risk from common causes, such
as smoking. Likewise, most citizens overestimate the risk of
sensational environmental problems and underestimate the risk of
ordinary ones. Models Physical 3d models you can touch
Graphical used to show things (maps, charts) Conceptual verbal or
graphical explanation of how a system works or is organized
Mathematical equations that represent the way a system or process
works Physical Model Graphical Model Conceptual Model What does
this model show us about how mercury gets to humans? Mathematical
Model I = PAT is the lettering of a formula put forward to describe
the impact of human activity on the environment I = P A T In words:
Human Impact (I) on the environment equals the product of P=
Population, A= Affluence, T= Technology This describes how our
growing population, affluence, and technology contribute toward our
environmental impact. Making Informed Decisions
Decision Making Model Making Informed Decisions