Environmental ScienceMichelle Guthrie, M.A.

Humans and the environment• We exist within the environment and are part of

the natural world.• Like all other species, we depend for our survival

on a properly functioning planet.

Humans and the environment• The Environment• Interactions between the living (biotic) and non-

living (abiotic)parts of the world.• We depend on it for food, water, shelter and space.

• Environmental science is the study of how the natural world works, how our environment affects us, and how we affect our environment.

• At Spring Arbor University, we also need to consider spiritual implications of the environment and our behavior toward the environment

Natural Resources Renewable

Trees Non-renewable

Fossil fuels

Population Growth Moved from a hunter/gather to agrarian

lifestyle Industrial revolution Green Revolution Genetic Revolution

Tragedy of the Commons Lab

The tragedy of the commons

Garrett Hardin, 1968:

In a “commons” open to all, unregulated use will deplete limited resources.

English countryside analogy

Modern examples – lake use, oil drilling, underground water

Easter Island

Easter Island

Easter Island

Easter Island

Easter Island

Easter Island

Easter Island

Easter Island

Easter Island

Easter Island

Easter Island

Environmental science

… can help us avoid mistakes made by past civilizations.

On Easter Island, people annihilated their culture by destroying their environment.

Environmental science

• How does the natural world work?

• How does our environment affect us?

• How do we affect our environment?

• Applied goal: Developing solutions to environmental problems.

Environmental science… is an interdisciplinary field, drawing on many

diverse disciplines.

Deals in the natural sciences (natural world)

Social Sciences (human interactions)

Ethics

LE 1-5

Ecology

Biology

Chemistry

Economics

Engineering

Politicalscience

History

Sociology Geology

Oceanography

Atmosphericscience

Environmentalscience

Anthropology Archaeology

Environmental Science… is NOT the same as

environmentalism.

It is science, NOT advocacy. (although for some it may lead to advocacy)

THE NATURE OF SCIENCE

http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/scienceflowchart

Environmental Science is the most important science for Christians• Evolution is an academic exercise, but

environmental science deals with a current crisis (Newhouse)

• Environmental science allows us to serve a hurting world

• Environmental science allows us to give testimony of our faith to non-Christians

Earth as an apartment building• Residents of the building are varied

• A single mother who needs help with her family• A blind man trying to live independently• An older woman with a heart problem who can

hardly walk• Many others with different needs also live there

• AND THE BUILDING IS ON FIRE!

• Fortunately, there are Christians living in the building….but where are they?

Christians in the building?• The Christians are all in a conference room

arguing……..

• Environmental science is a direct help for now and the future. It will define us as Christians to most of the world – how we react to the environmental crises others face allows us to put our Christianity on legs.

Environmental Ethics Application of ethical standards to

relationships between humans and non-human entities.

Ethical Perspectives (world views) Anthropocentrism; human centered view…must

have a benefit to people. Biocentrism; living and non-living things have

value and focus on effect to biotic realm. Ecocentrism; harming 1 part will harm balance of

the whole…must all be taken into account

Three ethical worldviewsLE 1-10

Ecocentric

Biocentric

Anthropocentric

Preservation vs. Conservation Ethics Preservation Ethics; Protect the environment in

pristine and unaltered state. John Muir…Yosemite Valley

Conservation Ethics; Use but manage wisely Gifford Pinchot…Chief of U.S. Forest Service

Were at odds with each other.

Environmental Justice Fair and equitable policy and practice

for communities and nations. One nation’s footprint justifiably larger

than another?

Sustainability“Does the present generation have an obligation to

conserve our resources for future generations?”

The key concept for our future: Live within our planet’s means, such that Earth and its

resources can sustain us, our descendants, and the rest of Earth’s living things for the foreseeable future.