Module 1

Question 1

It includes the living and the nonliving things with which we interact in a complex web of relationships that connect us to one another and to the world we live in

Answer 1

Environment

Question 2

Interdisciplinary study of how humans interact with the living & nonliving parts of their environment.

Answer 2

Environmental Science

Question 3

Environmental Science integrates information & ideas from:

Answer 3

Nat Sci, Soc Sci, and Humanities

Question 4

True or False.
Peer review processes in science help reduce personal bias and expose falsified results.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

True or False.
Scientists can prove theories with 100% certainty using controlled experiments.

Answer 5

False

Question 6

Goals of Environmental Science

Answer 6

Learn how life on the earth has survived and thrived
Understand how we interact with the environment
Find ways to deal with environmental problems and live more sustainably

Question 7

How does science differ from other ways of knowing?

Answer 7

Science is based on observation, experimentation, and evidence, while other ways of knowing, like religious, aesthetic, or moral views, are based on faith, beliefs, and personal choices.

Question 8

What questions does science not deal with?

Answer 8

Science does not deal with questions that cannot be tested by observation

Question 9

What role does science play in solving environmental problems?

Answer 9

Science helps us understand the effects of human actions on nature and guides us in making informed decisions

Question 10

What is the difference between everyday thinking and scientific thinking about the environment?

Answer 10

Everyday thinking
- personal beliefs and values
Scientific thinking
- observation, evidence, and the scientific method to draw conclusions.

Question 11

Why is science considered a process?

Answer 11

Science is a way of knowing that begins with curiosity and questioning, followed by systematic testing and observation of the natural world to build knowledge.

Question 12

When there is a threat of serious, perhaps even irreversible, environmental damage, we should not wait for scientific proof before taking precautionary steps to prevent potential harm to the environment.

Answer 12

Precautionary Principle

Question 13

Scientific principles of sustainability

Answer 13

• Dependence on solar energy
• Biodiversity
• Chemical Cycling

Question 14

Variety of genes, organisms, species, & ecosystems in which organisms exist & interact.

Answer 14

Biodiversity

Question 15

The circulation of chemicals necessary for life from the environment (mostly from soil & water) through organisms & back to the environment

Answer 15

Chemical Cycling

Question 16

Social science principles of sustainability

Answer 16

• Full-cost pricing
• Win-win solutions
• A responsibility to future generations

Question 17

Many economists recommend to include the harmful environmental & health costs of producing & using goods & services in their market prices

Answer 17

Full-cost pricing