Semester Exam Flashcards
Steps of the Scientific Method
- Observation
- Question
- Hypothesis
- Experiment
- Analyze
- Draw Conclusions
- Submit for peer review and Communicate results
Observation
Seeing, hearing smelling, tasting, feeling, be skeptical of new report until confirmed
Question
- clear and measurable
- can be tested
Hypothesis
An educated guess about the cause of an observation. Is tested through observation and experimentation
Experiment
A systematic test of a hypothesis. Factors are tested one at a time
Analyze
Apply the appropriate statistical tests to ensure the validity of the results
Draw Conclusions (Conclusions must be:)
- Must be objective
- Lack bias
- Accept or reject hypothesis
Submit for peer review and Communicate results
Rigorous peer review roots out junk science
Sustainability
the goal we should be working toward in our relationship with the natural world
Stewardship
Managing natural resources and human well-being for the common good
Sound science
- understanding how the world works and how humans interact with it
- uses the scientific method
Junk science
- doesn’t conform to the rigorous methods and practices of legitimate science
- information presented as scientifically valid, but does not conform to the rigors of true science
Environmental racism
waste sites and other industries occur in poor, nonwhite areas
Control
the set-up that is the norm that you compare to the experimental results (doesn’t have the variable)
Variable
Independent: variable that’s manipulated
Dependent: variable depends on independent
Biodiversity
variability among living organisms and the ecological complexes of which they are part
Importance of biodiversity
it helps maintain the stability of natural systems (enabling them to recover after a disturbance)
Causes of biodiversity loss
- COnversion of natural lands to crops and cities (habitat loss/fragmentation)
- Pollution and global warming
- Expoliation for commercial value (overharvesting)
- Species hunted, killed, and marketed illegally
Environmental science is a multidisciplinary academic field field that integrates…
physical, biological, and information sciences
Environmental science
the study of the environment and the solution to environmental problems
Environmental science provides an…
integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems
Silent Spring
successful because of the meticulous documentation of thorough reseach
Rachel Carson
initiated environmental awareness that led to the modern environmental movement
3 Most Important Sectors for Jobs
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing