Environmental Science
Environmental Science, Academic & Professional Discipline
The term environmental science refers to an interdisciplinary academic and professional field that integrates a variety of physical, biological, chemical, and information sciences to the study of the earth’s natural environment. The field primarily concerns the earth’s flora, fauna, atmosphere, climate patterns, soil, and waters, as well as humankind’s relationship with those groups. Certain fields of environmental science also explore the solution of environmental degradation issues. See below for more information.
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Disciplines
Environmental science explores topics such as ecology, geology, soil and plant sciences, oceanography, and biology to understand environmental issues. Subsets of the discipline also examine if and how humans impact the environment and the extent of the impact. Certain subsets of the field, such as climatology, are controversial due to a number of scientific uncertainties inherent in the study.
Environmental scientists study subjects like the understanding of earth processes, evaluating alternative energy systems, pollution control and mitigation, natural resource management, and the effects of global climate change. Environmental issues almost always include an interaction of physical, chemical, and biological processes. Environmental scientists bring a systems approach to the analysis of environmental problems. Key elements of an effective environmental scientist include the ability to relate space, and time relationships as well as quantitative analysis.