Environmental Science

Summary

This AP Environmental Science video introduces the course, which explores the critical interactions between Earth's natural and human systems. It emphasizes the importance of understanding these relationships in the face of a growing global population and planetary pressures. The course covers land and water use, energy, pollution, and climate change, integrating scientific practices and the concept of sustainability. It also highlights the role of industry in both creating and solving environmental challenges and introduces key figures like Rachel Carson, who brought environmental issues to the forefront.

Takeaways

• 🌏 Environmental Science is the study of interactions between Earth's natural systems and human systems.
• 📈 The world's population is growing, putting pressure on the planet, and understanding this pressure is crucial.
• 🏞 The course will cover land and water use, energy, pollution, and climate change as part of the interactions between natural and human systems.
• 🔬 Science practices are integral to the course, emphasizing the role of an environmental scientist in seeking truth about environmental interactions.
• 🌳 Sustainability is key to living within the boundaries of the Earth, and understanding the consequences of overstepping these boundaries is vital.
• 📚 Rachel Carson's work, particularly 'Silent Spring,' is highlighted as a significant contribution to modern environmental science.
• 🌱 The concept of environmentalism as a belief system is distinguished from environmental science, which is about finding scientific truths.
• 💡 The course is important because it addresses the need to 'Save Our Society' by understanding and respecting planetary boundaries.
• 🔑 The AP Environmental Science exam will test knowledge and application of environmental science concepts, including data analysis and mathematical skills.
• 🌐 The course includes natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, making it a comprehensive study of environmental issues.
• 📈 The ecological footprint is a concept that will be discussed, highlighting the disparities in resource use between developed and developing countries.

Q & A

What is the main focus of AP Environmental Science?

AP Environmental Science focuses on the study of interactions between the earth's natural systems and human systems.

Why is it important to understand the interactions between natural and human systems?

Understanding these interactions is important because it helps us comprehend how human activities impact the environment and how we can live sustainably within the earth's boundaries.

What is an example of a human-induced environmental pressure mentioned in the script?

An example of human-induced environmental pressure mentioned is the population exceeding 7 billion, which puts pressure on the earth's resources.

What does the course cover in terms of environmental issues?

The course covers a range of environmental issues including land and water use, energy, pollution, and climate change.

Who is Rachel Carson and why is she significant in environmental science?

Rachel Carson is a significant figure in environmental science because her book 'Silent Spring' brought attention to the negative consequences of DDT, influencing modern environmental science.

What is the difference between environmental science and environmentalism according to the script?

Environmental science is about seeking truth and understanding how we interact with the environment, while environmentalism is a belief system focused on lobbying for environmental protection.

Why is sustainability important in the context of this course?

Sustainability is important because it relates to living within the earth's boundaries and ensuring the long-term survival and well-being of human societies.

What is an example of exceeding planetary boundaries given in the script?

An example of exceeding planetary boundaries is the increase in global temperature due to climate change, which is affecting society and is predicted to continue having consequences.

What role does the economy play in achieving sustainability according to the script?

The economy plays a central role in achieving sustainability as it drives the industrialization that has led to environmental issues, and it must also drive the solutions for sustainability.

What does the script suggest about the composition of the AP Environmental Science course?

The script suggests that the AP Environmental Science course is interdisciplinary, including natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

What are some of the skills students are expected to develop in the AP Environmental Science course?

Students are expected to develop skills such as analyzing data, using mathematics, and applying scientific practices like conducting investigations and case studies.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Introduction to AP Environmental Science

The first paragraph introduces the AP Environmental Science course, emphasizing its focus on the study of interactions between the Earth's natural systems and human systems. Mr. Andersen uses the example of Shanghai's population to highlight the pressure on the planet as the human population exceeds 7 billion. The course will explore land and water use, energy, pollution, and climate change, and will integrate the practices of science throughout. The importance of understanding sustainability is underscored by the historical example of Easter Island's population collapse due to deforestation. The paragraph also introduces Rachel Carson and her influential work on the environmental impact of DDT, which brought modern environmental science to the forefront. The distinction between environmental science and environmentalism is clarified, with the former being a scientific pursuit of truth and the latter a belief system advocating for environmental protection.

05:01

💼 The Importance of Sustainability and Economic Drivers

The second paragraph delves into the necessity of sustainability, arguing that economic factors must drive sustainable solutions. It discusses the concept of an ecological footprint and the disparity in resource usage between developed and developing countries. The course's interdisciplinary nature is highlighted, combining natural sciences with social sciences and humanities to address environmental issues from multiple perspectives. The importance of applying scientific practices, such as conducting investigations and case studies, is stressed. The paragraph also provides an overview of the AP exam format, which includes multiple-choice questions, data analysis, document-based questions, and calculations without the use of a calculator. The goal is to prepare students to think and act like environmental scientists, emphasizing the practical application of knowledge and the importance of understanding the broader implications of environmental issues.

Keywords

💡Environmental Science

Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field that studies the interactions between the Earth's natural systems and human systems. It is central to the video's theme, as it encompasses the study of how human activities impact the environment and ecosystems. The script discusses the importance of understanding these interactions, particularly in the context of increasing global population pressures and the need for sustainable practices.

💡Sustainability

Sustainability refers to the ability to maintain human activities within the carrying capacity of the Earth's ecosystems, ensuring that future generations can also meet their needs. In the video, sustainability is highlighted as a critical concept, necessary for living within the Earth's boundaries and avoiding overstepping them, as exemplified by the historical case of Easter Island and its deforestation.

💡Population

Population in this context refers to the number of people on Earth, which is currently over 7 billion. The script emphasizes the impact of population growth on the planet, particularly in terms of resource use and environmental pressures. It suggests that understanding the relationship between population and the environment is crucial for environmental science.

💡Planetary Boundaries

Planetary Boundaries are limits to the extent to which humans can alter Earth's natural systems without causing unacceptable environmental changes. The video mentions these boundaries, developed by Johan Rockstrom and his group, as a framework for understanding the safe operating space for humanity within the Earth system, and how exceeding these boundaries can lead to negative societal impacts.

💡Deforestation

Deforestation is the large-scale removal of trees from land, often for agricultural or development purposes. The script uses the example of Easter Island to illustrate the consequences of deforestation, where it led to a dramatic decline in the population due to the island's inability to support its inhabitants after the environmental degradation.

💡Ecological Footprint

An ecological footprint is a measure of the amount of land and water required to support an individual or group's lifestyle, considering the consumption of resources and the waste produced. The video discusses the ecological footprint in the context of developed versus developing countries, highlighting the increased pressure on the planet as more countries develop.

💡Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson was a marine biologist and conservationist, known for her influential book 'Silent Spring,' which raised awareness about the environmental impacts of pesticides, particularly DDT. The script introduces Carson as a key figure in modern environmental science, whose work helped to shift public and scientific perspectives on the importance of environmental protection.

💡Climate Change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions on Earth. The video script discusses climate change as one of the significant pressures on the Earth, with the potential to have far-reaching consequences for society, including rising temperatures and the associated impacts on ecosystems and human activities.

💡Biodiversity Loss

Biodiversity loss is the reduction in the variety of species, genes, and ecosystems. The script mentions biodiversity loss as one of the critical issues within the context of planetary boundaries, indicating that human activities are contributing to a potential sixth mass extinction, which is primarily caused by human actions.

💡Scientific Method

The scientific method is a systematic approach to investigating and understanding the natural world, based on empirical evidence and subject to testing and refinement. The video emphasizes the importance of the scientific method in environmental science, distinguishing it from environmentalism, which is a belief system focused on protecting the environment through advocacy and policy.

💡Ethics, Law, and Politics

The script mentions that environmental science is not limited to natural sciences but also includes social sciences and humanities, such as ethics, law, and politics. This inclusion reflects the multifaceted nature of environmental issues, which require not only scientific understanding but also consideration of moral, legal, and policy frameworks to address them effectively.

Highlights

Introduction to AP Environmental Science as the study of interactions between Earth's and human systems.

The importance of understanding the impact of over 7 billion people on the planet.

Course outline starting with the Earth, moving through living systems, and concluding with human populations.

Focus on land and water use, energy, pollution, and climate change as key topics.

Emphasis on the scientific practices and the role of an environmental scientist.

The significance of sustainability and the example of Easter Island's deforestation.

Introduction of Rachel Carson and her influential book 'Silent Spring' on the environmental impact of DDT.

Differentiation between environmental science and environmentalism as belief systems.

Importance of the course in the context of exceeding planetary boundaries.

Discussion on the various factors affecting the Earth and society, such as climate change and biodiversity loss.

The concept of an ecological footprint and the pressure it places on the planet as countries develop.

The integration of natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities in the study of environmental science.

The role of industry in both causing and potentially solving environmental issues.

The importance of acting like an environmental scientist throughout the course, including applying scientific practices.

The structure of the AP exam, including multiple-choice questions and free response sections.

The necessity of understanding data analysis and mathematical skills for the AP exam.

The significance of case studies in making connections between course content and real-world environmental issues.

Final advice on preparing for the AP exam by focusing on scientific practices and understanding the importance of the course material.

Transcripts

Hi. It’s Mr. Andersen and this is AP Environmental Science video 1. It is the first in a series

of videoes for AP Environmental Science, which is the study of the interactions between the

systems of the earth and the human systems. And I remember visiting Shanghai and looking

across the Bund and thinking, Wow. We have so many people on our planet. We are pushing

well beyond 7 billion. That is going to put pressure on the earth. And understanding how

that works is incredibly important. And so in AP Environmental Science we will study

the interactions between the natural systems and the human systems. So we will begin with

the earth itself. And then we will move through living systems. And finally we will get to

the populations that make up human systems. The rest of the course will be dedicated to

the interactions between these two worlds. And so we begin with land and water use. Then

energy. Finally pollution and climate change. Now since this is a science course it is incredibly

important that we study the practices of science, what it is to be an environmental scientist.

And so this is the outline for the course. We will begin with the earth. We will move

through climate change. But we are going to deal with the practices throughout. Now what

is most important to us as humans are the human populations. And so to live within those

boundaries, it is important that we understand the concept of sustainability. What happens

when you out-step those boundaries? Well we could look to Easter Island for an example.

We used to have a flourishing population there. But what happened was deforestation. They

put pressure on the island itself and their population dropped off dramatically. And so

as we study environmental science we will deal with very important figures. But I wanted

to begin with a very important figure named Rachel Carson. And she really brought us into

the modern age of environmental science. Her study of DDT and the negative consequences

of that, which are illustrated in her book Silent Spring, really brought that to the

forefront of our minds. What are we doing and how are we impacting the environment itself.

And so this is an environmental science course. And so like any other science course we are

going to deal with the scientific method. Now sometimes students will confuse that term

with environmentalism. Now that is going to be a belief system. So we are going to lobby

officials and try to get laws passed that protect the environment. That is not environmental

science. Environmental science is looking for that truth of how we can interact with

the environment. So maybe in the future science will say that DDT is an important tool that

we could use to fight malaria. Then we have to follow that pathway. And so why is this

course important? Well when I was young people used to wear t-shirts that said Save Our Planet.

And it is kind of a funny shirt because the planet, the earth, is going to do fine. It

is how we do on that planet that is important to us. And so a better slogan is Save Our

Society. And why is that a big deal right now? Well we are starting to exceed some,

what have been coined, planetary boundaries by Johan Rockstrom and his group at the Stockholm

Resilience Center. And so if we look at this model, we look at all the things that are

affecting the earth that can then affect society. And so the one that you are probably familiar

with is climate change. But we also have ocean acidification. We have ozone depletion. We

have changes in biogeochemical cycling. Increases in nitrogen and phosphorous. We have fresh

water use, or the availability of fresh water. Deforestation. Biodiversity loss. Particle

pollution and chemical pollution. And so what they have done is said, how can we exist within

the safe boundaries of the earth. So on this model if we say the blue represents where

we can safely live. This yellow dot represents where humanity was preindustrialization. Before

the industrial revolution and the spread of industry around the world, these were our

levels. But now if we look at where we are as far as those boundaries, as far as climate

change, we are increasing the climate, the temperature. And as a result we are going

to have consequences that are beginning to affect society and will continue to affect

society. We are looking at a thee degree increase which is incredible. But if we look at these

other ones, ocean acidification, ozone depletion, our increase in the amount of nitrogen in

the biosphere. Phosphorous. If we look at fresh water use. Deforestation. Biodiversity

loss. A lot of scientists are saying that we are headed into this sixth extinction,

that caused by humans. Now we do not have good models for pollution, but if you put

our earth back, we are exceeding these boundaries. We are putting pressure on the earth. Now

the earth will survive, but humans may not survive in the numbers that we are today.

And so that is why it is important. We have to live within the boundaries of the earth

itself. And so sustainability is incredibly important. Now a model that works is since

industry brought us to this point, industry is going to have to bring us back. And so

this model works for me. If you think of the earth as this boundary of life support and

society exists within that, then what is at the center? What drove industrialization?

It is the economy. And so as we come up with solutions for sustainability, it is not enough

to just say that we should save the earth because that is good. Or we should be altruistic

in that. It has to be an economical driver that is pushing that sustainability. Another

term that you will hear a lot is the idea of an ecological footprint. Since we, I live

in a developed country, I am using more resources on our planet than other people in developing

countries. And so as they become developed that is going to put even more pressure on

the planet. And so that is why this course is incredibly important. It is also why this

is unlike the other sciences that you have probably taken. It is not just going to be

science. It is going to contain the natural sciences but it will also have the social

sciences and the humanities as well. So we are going to be talking about science but

also we will be talking about ethics and law and politics. And so it is really going to

be a fun course to walk through. Also you should remember that this is a science course.

And so as we move forward the AP folks are focussing on the practices of science. So

inside the course itself you should be acting like an environmental scientist. And so you

should not just be learning about environmental sciences, you should be applying it. So if

we start with one of theses practices, asking questions, conducting investigations, this

would be a great field investigation for me to do. So this is the eastern Gallatin, right

outside of Bozeman. And so I could do studies here on water quality over time. But I could

also do studies in the laboratory. I should be doing investigations where I am coming

up with a question and trying to answer that question. Case studies will be incredibly

important as well. Making these connections between what we have learned in the course.

So you are probably familiar with the deep water horizon. There was a fire and that led

to this spread of oil. So this fire, eventually there was a breach of the pipe, and now we

have oil spreading. So to look at where we are, this is in the Gulf of Mexico. This is

Florida. And so we are looking at this area right here. You can see so much oil is spread

out. And in each of these case studies there is something happening to the environment.

And so we have to understand all the ramifications of that. And lots of times it takes decades

to figure out what really has happened. And then finally you are going to take an AP exam

at the end. And so understanding how that AP exam is important right now to understand

what can you do throughout the course to kind of prepare for that. And so analyzing data.

Using mathematics is going to be incredibly important. So let me briefly talk about the

test. And so the first section will be multiple choice. You are going to have 100 questions.

You get 90 minutes to answer those questions. Some will be discrete by themselves and some

will come in big sets. So you might have a map and try to point to different geology

on the planet. And then you will move into the free response. In the free response you

are going to have 1 question that is going to be based in a data set. And so understanding

how to analyze data, both on the multiple choice and the free response is incredibly

important. You will then have 1 document based question. It is always on the pretend city

named Fremont. So it is an article in the Fremont Gazette, for example. And so you are

going to have to analyze that. So connecting the knowledge that you have learned is incredibly

important. And you are also going to have to do a lot of calculating. And what is interesting

is there is no calculator. So prepare for that. So understanding how to solve simple

problems just using mathematics, dimensional analysis and scientific notation. That is

incredibly important as well. And so did you learn the following? Could you fill out this

concept map? Well you could pause the video right now and try to do that. But I will step

you through it. And so what is environmental science? It is the interactions between the

natural systems and the human systems. That will be the earth systems and the living systems

interacting with populations. And so this is interactions right here. We will start

with land water use, energy. We move towards pollution and the pressures we are putting

on the earth and global change. And remember that you want to focus on the practices.

So hopefully you have learned that. And I hope that was helpful.