Environmental Science

Bozeman Science
23 Aug 201509:08
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video script introduces AP Environmental Science as the study of interactions between natural and human systems on Earth. It highlights the importance of understanding sustainability, planetary boundaries, and our ecological footprint, as human activities increasingly strain Earth's resources. The script outlines the course structure, emphasizing hands-on scientific practices like investigations, case studies, and data analysis. It discusses the AP exam format and skills required, such as analyzing data and using mathematics. The script underscores the interdisciplinary nature of environmental science, encompassing natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to find solutions that balance economic drivers with environmental conservation.

Takeaways
  • 🌍 Environmental science studies the interactions between natural systems (earth, living systems) and human systems (populations).
  • 🌱 The course covers topics like land/water use, energy, pollution, climate change, and sustainability.
  • 👥 As human population grows, it puts pressure on the planet and its resources, exceeding planetary boundaries.
  • 🔬 Like other sciences, environmental science follows the scientific method and practices like asking questions, conducting investigations, and analyzing data.
  • 📚 Case studies are important for making connections between course concepts and real-world events.
  • 🧭 Understanding sustainability and living within the earth's boundaries is crucial for human society's survival.
  • 💰 Economic drivers are necessary for promoting sustainable practices introduced by industrialization.
  • 🌎 The course involves natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities like ethics, law, and politics.
  • ✏️ The AP exam tests skills like data analysis, mathematics, and connecting knowledge through multiple-choice and free-response questions.
  • 🌳 Pioneers like Rachel Carson brought awareness to environmental issues like the negative impacts of DDT.
Q & A

  • What is the main objective of the AP Environmental Science course?

    -The main objective of the AP Environmental Science course is to study the interactions between the natural systems of the Earth and human systems, and to understand how these interactions impact sustainability.

  • What are the main topics covered in the course?

    -The course covers topics such as land and water use, energy, pollution, climate change, and the practices of environmental science. It starts with the Earth itself and living systems, then moves on to human populations and their interactions with the environment.

  • What is the significance of the concept of 'planetary boundaries'?

    -The concept of 'planetary boundaries' introduced by Johan Rockstrom and the Stockholm Resilience Center refers to the boundaries within which humanity can safely operate without causing irreversible damage to the Earth's systems. Exceeding these boundaries can have severe consequences for society.

  • What is the role of industry in achieving sustainability?

    -Since industrialization played a significant role in pushing humanity beyond the planetary boundaries, the instructor suggests that industry must now drive the solutions for sustainability. Sustainability needs to have an economic driver at its core.

  • What is the concept of an 'ecological footprint'?

    -The concept of an 'ecological footprint' refers to the amount of resources an individual or population consumes from the planet. People in developed countries generally have a larger ecological footprint than those in developing countries.

  • What is the difference between environmentalism and environmental science?

    -Environmentalism is a belief system that involves lobbying officials and pushing for laws to protect the environment. Environmental science, on the other hand, is the objective study of the truth about how humans can interact with the environment, based on scientific evidence.

  • What are the practices of science emphasized in the AP Environmental Science course?

    -The course emphasizes practices such as asking questions, conducting investigations (both field and laboratory), analyzing case studies, analyzing data, and using mathematics and scientific notation.

  • What is the structure of the AP Environmental Science exam?

    -The AP Environmental Science exam consists of a multiple-choice section with 100 questions (90 minutes), a free-response question based on a data set, a document-based question related to a hypothetical city named Fremont, and calculations that must be done without a calculator.

  • What is the significance of Rachel Carson's book 'Silent Spring'?

    -Rachel Carson's book 'Silent Spring' brought attention to the negative consequences of the pesticide DDT, and is considered a pivotal work that ushered in the modern era of environmental science.

  • Why is the AP Environmental Science course different from other science courses?

    -The AP Environmental Science course is unique in that it combines natural sciences with social sciences and humanities, as it requires discussions on ethics, law, and politics in addition to scientific concepts.

Outlines
00:00
🌍 Introduction to AP Environmental Science

This paragraph introduces the AP Environmental Science course. It discusses the study of the interactions between natural systems and human systems, the course outline covering topics like land and water use, energy, pollution, climate change, and scientific practices. It emphasizes the importance of understanding sustainability and living within the earth's boundaries, using examples like Easter Island and Rachel Carson's work. The paragraph distinguishes between environmental science and environmentalism, and highlights the relevance of the course in addressing planetary boundaries and societal impacts.

05:01
🔍 Course Structure and Practices

This paragraph delves into the course structure and practices of AP Environmental Science. It discusses the integration of natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. It emphasizes the importance of acting like an environmental scientist by conducting investigations, asking questions, analyzing case studies, and making connections. The paragraph also provides an overview of the AP exam, including multiple-choice questions, data analysis, document-based questions, and calculations without a calculator. It concludes by summarizing the key concepts learned, including the interactions between natural and human systems, course topics, and the focus on scientific practices.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Environmental Science
Environmental science is the study of interactions between natural systems (such as the Earth's land, water, and living systems) and human systems (like populations and societies). As Mr. Andersen states, 'Environmental science is the study of the interactions between the systems of the Earth and the human systems.' The video emphasizes the importance of understanding these interactions to ensure sustainability and mitigate negative impacts on the environment.
💡Sustainability
Sustainability refers to living and operating within the Earth's boundaries or limits, without depleting or damaging natural resources and systems. The video stresses that 'to live within those boundaries, it is important that we understand the concept of sustainability.' It highlights the need for sustainable practices, especially in areas like industry and resource usage, to prevent exceeding the Earth's capacity and causing catastrophic consequences, as illustrated by the example of Easter Island's deforestation and population decline.
💡Planetary Boundaries
Planetary boundaries are the safe limits within which human activities should operate to avoid causing unacceptable environmental changes that could endanger Earth's systems. The video discusses the model proposed by Johan Rockstrom and the Stockholm Resilience Center, which identifies nine planetary boundaries, such as climate change, ocean acidification, and biodiversity loss. It emphasizes that humanity is currently exceeding several of these boundaries, putting pressure on the Earth and risking societal consequences.
💡Ecological Footprint
An ecological footprint refers to the amount of natural resources and land area required to sustain a particular population or individual's lifestyle. The video mentions that people in developed countries generally have a larger ecological footprint due to higher resource consumption. As developing countries become more industrialized, their increasing footprints will put even more pressure on the planet's resources and systems.
💡Scientific Method
The scientific method is the systematic process of inquiry used in scientific research, involving steps like asking questions, conducting investigations, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions. The video emphasizes that, as a science course, AP Environmental Science should involve practicing the scientific method, such as through field investigations, case studies, and data analysis. Students are encouraged to 'act like environmental scientists' and apply the scientific process.
💡Practices of Science
The practices of science refer to the skills and approaches used by scientists in their work, such as asking questions, designing experiments, analyzing data, and communicating findings. The video highlights that the AP Environmental Science course focuses on these practices, encouraging students to engage in activities like conducting investigations, analyzing case studies, and interpreting data sets, rather than just passively learning content.
💡Rachel Carson
Rachel Carson is an influential figure in the modern environmental movement, whose book 'Silent Spring' raised awareness about the harmful effects of pesticides like DDT on the environment and wildlife. The video introduces her as 'an important figure' who 'brought us into the modern age of environmental science' by documenting the negative consequences of human activities on the natural world.
💡Climate Change
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global or regional climate patterns, primarily driven by human activities like burning fossil fuels that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The video identifies climate change as one of the key planetary boundaries that humanity is currently exceeding, with significant consequences for society if temperature increases continue at the current rate.
💡Biodiversity Loss
Biodiversity loss is the ongoing decline in the variety of plant and animal species on Earth, often caused by human activities like habitat destruction, pollution, and overexploitation of resources. The video cites biodiversity loss as one of the planetary boundaries being exceeded, with some scientists warning of a potential 'sixth extinction' event caused by human impacts on the environment.
💡Industrialization
Industrialization refers to the process of social and economic development characterized by the rapid growth of industries and the adoption of industrial manufacturing processes. The video positions industrialization as a driving force behind many environmental issues, as it led to increased resource consumption, pollution, and exceeding of planetary boundaries. However, it also suggests that industry must now play a role in developing sustainable solutions to mitigate these impacts.
Highlights

This is AP Environmental Science video 1, which is the study of the interactions between the systems of the earth and the human systems.

We are pushing well beyond 7 billion people on our planet, which is going to put pressure on the earth.

The course will cover the interactions between natural systems and human systems, starting with the earth, moving through living systems, and finally human populations.

The course outline includes land and water use, energy, pollution, climate change, and the practices of environmental science.

Rachel Carson's book 'Silent Spring' brought attention to the negative consequences of DDT and initiated the modern age of environmental science.

Environmental science is about understanding how we can interact with the environment, not necessarily environmentalism or lobbying for laws.

The slogan 'Save Our Society' is more appropriate than 'Save Our Planet' because the earth will be fine, but human society may not survive in its current numbers.

Johan Rockstrom's planetary boundaries model shows that humanity is exceeding safe levels of climate change, ocean acidification, ozone depletion, biogeochemical cycling, fresh water use, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Sustainability requires living within the boundaries of the earth, and industry must drive solutions since it caused the problems.

The ecological footprint concept highlights that developed countries use more resources than developing countries, putting more pressure on the planet.

The course will cover natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, including ethics, law, and politics.

Students should practice the scientific practices, such as asking questions, conducting investigations, analyzing data, and making connections through case studies.

The AP exam includes multiple-choice questions, data analysis, document-based questions, and calculations without a calculator.

A concept map demonstrates the interactions between natural systems, human systems, course topics, and scientific practices.

The essence of environmental science is understanding the interactions between natural and human systems to ensure sustainability and the survival of human society within the boundaries of the earth.

Transcripts

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