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Environmental Science and

Critical Thinking

Chapter Outline

Encouraging Signs/Continuing Challenges

What is Environmental Science?

Science and Scientific Method: Keys to Understanding Environmental Issues and Creating Lasting Solutions

Scientific Method: The Basis of Good Science

Experimentation: Testing Hypotheses

Scientific Theories and Paradigms

Science and Values

Critical Thinking Skills

Spotlight on Sustainable Development: The Netherlands’ Green Plan

Key Terms

hypothesis critical thinking

inductive reasoning anecdotal information

deductive reasoning correlation

experimental group dualistic thinking

epidemiology scientific theory

paradigm paradigm shift

sustainable development theories

Objectives

1. Discuss the procedure of the scientific method.

2. Define the following terms: “hypothesis,” “experiment,” “inductive reasoning,” “deductive reasoning,” “experimental group,” “control group,” and “independent variable.”

3. Define “scientific theory” and discuss how theories are formed.

4. Define “paradigm” and “paradigm shift.”

5. Discuss why paradigms are important in the sciences and other disciplines.

6. List and discuss the rules of critical thinking.

Lecture Outline

Encouraging Signs on the Path to a Sustainable Society

A. Many nations are taking steps to slow population growth and create a more environmentally friendly form of commerce.

1. Netherlands’ Green Plan

a. This plan relies on four basic principles:

i. Life cycle management - This makes companies responsible for products throughout their life cycle.

ii. Energy efficiency - Companies can save huge sums of money by using energy more efficiently.

iii. Sustainable technologies - The government has started a program to develop sustainable technologies and make existing technologies more available.

iv. Public awareness - The government has publicized this program with the slogan “A better environment begins with you.”

b. Industries are encouraged to voluntarily eliminate hazardous wastes and pollution without the need of regulation and fines.

c. The government works actively with industry to identify major environmental problems and establish timetables to reduce pollution. Industries enter an agreement to meet established goals and are fined only if they fail to meet them.

d. The government allows companies to select the most cost effective technologies to reduce pollution.

e. Financial and technical assistance is provided by the government where necessary.

2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Programs

a. Companies are encouraged to work voluntarily with the EPA to reduce hazardous wastes and energy use.

b. Companies realize environmental policies that encourage efficient use of resources are also cost effective.

What is Environmental Science?

Environmental Science is a multidisciplinary field.

Traditional sciences are used including: biology, ecology, chemistry, geology, engineering and physics.

Other fields in the humanities are used such as: economics, political science, anthropology, history, law, sociology and psychology.

Environmental Science is an applied science and seeks solutions to current environmental problems.

Sustainable development is an important modern paradigm in Environmental Science because it provides permanent solutions to environmental problems.

Science and Scientific Method

A. Science - Science is a body of knowledge and a method of acquiring further knowledge about the world around us.

1. The term science comes from the Latin word scienta, which means to know or to discern.

2. Technically, the term science refers to a body of knowledge derived from observation, measurement, study, experimentation, and the process of accumulating such knowledge.

B. Scientific Method

1. Hypotheses - Hypotheses are tentative explanations of observations and measurements.

a. Inductive Reasoning - Observations and facts are used to arrive at general conclusions.

b. Deductive Reasoning - A specific conclusion is derived from general principles.

C. Testing Hypotheses

1. Hypotheses are tested by performing experiments. Experiments often use two test groups:

a. Experimental Group - This group is the one that is tested under a new condition; some variable is being altered in this group to test for change.

b. Control Group - This group is identical to the experimental group but is not exposed to the “new” condition (the variable being tested in the experimental group).

c. The variable being tested is called the independent variable.

D. Scientific Theories and Paradigms

1. Theories are explanations that account for many different hypotheses, observations, and facts. Theories are broad scientific generalizations regarding natural, physical, and chemical phenomena. A good example would be Atomic theory. Atomic theory explains the structure of the atom and fits numerous observations.

2. Paradigms are basic models of reality. These are large philosophical and theoretical frameworks that greatly influence the development of theories, laws and generalizations. Paradigms influence our way of thinking about and interpreting our observations. A biological example would be the theory of evolution. Paradigms are rarely questioned and become the accepted format for interpreting all new thought or observation.

3. Paradigm shifts occur when new observations cause a change in our fundamental belief system.

E. Science and Values

1. Human values shape scientific interpretation and science can influence human values.

Critical Thinking Skills

A. Critical thinking is the ability to distinguish between beliefs and knowledge. Critical thinking helps us separate judgment from facts. These skills are valuable in analyzing a wide range of environmental problems, issues, and information.

B. The following are basic critical thinking skills:

1. Gather all information.

2. Understand all terms.

3. Question the methods.

4. Question the source.

5. Question the conclusions.

6. Tolerate uncertainty.

7. Examine the big picture.

Suggestions for Presenting the Chapter

· Performing a simple experimental exercise with the class emphasizing the development and testing of hypotheses is valuable.

· Instructors should provide examples of paradigm shifts to the class for discussion. Some examples might be Einstein's Theory of Relativity or the comparison of hunting/gathering societies to modern industrial/post-industrial cultures.

· The paradigm shift from a Frontier Ethic to Sustainable Ethics is an interesting discussion and involves questions of ethics/values.

· The instructor can provide a reading to be analyzed using critical thinking skills. Breaking the class into groups also works well for this type of activity.