ENVIRONMENTAL

SCIENCE
Definition, Scope and
Principles
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Deals with the study of our

environment either globally
or locally, and its living and
non-living components.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Environmental science and the issues that
it studies are complex and
interdisciplinary.
Includes concepts and ideas from
multiple fields of study.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: SCOPE

Interrelationships among
components of the natural
world; environmental problems,
their causes, associated risks,
preventive measures and
alternative solutions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
1. Natural Sciences
 Include biology, chemistry, earth science, physics and
medicine
2. Social Sciences
 Include economics, political science, sociology, history,
philosophy and ethics
3. Physical Sciences/ Other Fields
 Mathematics, statistics, technology, business and
management, law, religion, morality and aesthetics
ENVIRONMENT

The sum total of all surroundings of a

living organism, including natural forces
and other living things, which provide
conditions for development and growth
as well as of danger and damage.
GOALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

1. To develop a sustainable world, a world in which the

supply of food, water, building materials, clean air, and
other resources can sustain human population to continue
to exist indefinitely with high standard of living and health.

2. To study environmental problems and issues, and

priorities regarding acceptable environmental preservation
of natural species and habitats, freedom of nations to do
as they please, within their own potential boundaries, and
issues on the quality of life, fairness and ethics.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

The process by which people develop

awareness, knowledge and concern of the
environment and its diverse values and
processes, and learn to use this
understanding to preserve, conserve and
utilize the environment in a sustainable
manner for the benefit of present and
future generations.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Involves the acquisition of skills, motivations and

commitment to work individually and collectively
towards solving current environmental problems
and preventing new problems from cropping up.
Adopts an integrated approach to the
environment both natural and man-made, and
promotes a holistic, dynamic and interactive view
of its biological, physical, social, economic,
technological and cultural components.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

The process by which people develop

awareness, knowledge and concern of the
environment and its diverse values and
processes, and learn to use this
understanding to preserve, conserve and
utilize the environment in a sustainable
manner for the benefit of present and
future generations.
GOALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

The quality of the environment and the

quality of life we enjoy are directly
related. We have the power to control
the quality of the environment, but
commonly, in using our power, we
damage the environment, often
irreversibly.
GOALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
1. Society prepares its citizen to carry out their
responsibilities through its system of education.
a. Education must develop in each citizen an awareness
of, and a sensitivity to the environment and its
problems.
b. Education must teach citizen the knowledge,
understanding and skills needed to solve
problems.
c. Education must foster positive attitudes and
patterns of conduct toward the environment.
GOALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

2. Environmental Education must consider all aspects of the

environment- natural and man-made, technological, social,
economic, political, cultural, aesthetic and knowledge.

3. It must emphasize an enduring continuity, linking actions of

today to the consequences for tomorrow and the need to
think globally.
GOALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
4. It must aid young citizens in developing a sense of
responsibility and commitment to the future, and prepare
them to carry out the role of safeguarding and
improving the environment upon which all life depends.

5. To teach students to think critically and to inform them of

environmental science as an on-going search for truth.

6. In sum, environmental education is a valuable part of

science instruction, that molds students into smug crusaders
whose initial foundation of knowledge is shaky.
ENVIRONMENT

All the external forces, influences and

conditions, which affect the life, nature,
behaviour and the growth, development
and maturity of living organisms.
It can be concluded from the above definition
that Environment comprises various types of
forces such as physical, intellectual, economic,
political, cultural, social, moral and emotional.
 SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
The environment consists of four segments
as under:
1. Atmosphere
2. Hydrosphere
3. Lithosphere
4. Biosphere
 SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
The environment consists of four segments as under:
1. Atmosphere: The atmosphere implies the protective blanket of
gases, surrounding the earth:
(a) It sustains life on the earth.
(b) It saves it from the hostile environment of outer space.
(c) It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and a
major portion of the electromagnetic radiation from the sun.
(d) It transmits only here ultraviolet, visible, near infrared
radiation (300 to 2500nm) and radio waves. (0.14 to 40 m) while
filtering out tissue-damaging ultraviolet waves below about 300 nm.
The atmosphere is composed of nitrogen and oxygen. Besides,
argon, carbon dioxide, and trace gases.
 SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
The environment consists of four segments as under:

2. Hydrosphere: The Hydrosphere comprises all types of water

resources oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, reservoir, polar
icecaps, glaciers, and ground water.
(i) Nature 97% of the earth’s water supply is in the oceans,
(ii) About 2% of the water resources is locked in the polar
icecaps and glaciers.
(iii)Only about 1% is available as fresh surface water-rivers,
lakes streams, and ground water fit to be used for human
consumption and other uses.
 SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
The environment consists of four segments as under:
3. Lithosphere: Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the
solid earth. It consists of minerals occurring in the
earth’s crusts and the soil e.g. minerals, organic
matter, air and water.

4. Biosphere: Biosphere indicates the realm of living

organisms and their
interactions with environment, viz atmosphere,
hydrosphere and lithosphere.
 SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
The environment consists of four segments as under:
1. Atmosphere: The atmosphere implies the protective blanket of gases, surrounding the earth:
(a) It sustains life on the earth.
(b) It saves it from the hostile environment of outer space.
(c) It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and a major portion of the electromagnetic radiation
from the sun.
(d) It transmits only here ultraviolet, visible, near infrared radiation (300 to 2500nm) and radio waves. (0.14 to
40 m) while filtering out tissue-damaging ultraviolet waves below about 300 nm.
The atmosphere is composed of nitrogen and oxygen. Besides, argon, carbon dioxide, and trace gases.

2. Hydrosphere: The Hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, reservoir,
polar icecaps, glaciers, and ground water.
(i) Nature 97% of the earth’s water supply is in the oceans,
(ii) About 2% of the water resources is locked in the polar icecaps and glaciers.
(iii)Only about 1% is available as fresh surface water-rivers, lakes streams, and ground water fit to be used for
human consumption and other uses.

3. Lithosphere: Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It consists of minerals occurring in the earth’s crusts
and the soil e.g. minerals, organic matter, air and water.

4. Biosphere: Biosphere indicates the realm of living organisms and their

interactions with environment, viz atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.