ENVIRONMENTAL

SCIENCE
ELISEO “joHN” G.
PONTING JR
 OBJECTIVES
1. Define Environmental Science;
2. Determine the different branches of
Environmental Science; and
3. Analyze the different issues in our
environment.
GEC 7: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
We only have one EARTH.
Should we protect it?
You decide.
What is Environmental Science?
The Environment is everything around us. It includes all the living
and none living things we interact with.
Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary study of how humans
interact with things. It involves
natural sciences
(chemistry, biology, ecology, geology, physics)
social sciences
(geography, economics, political science, anthropology, and
demography)
humanities (philosophy, and ethics).
The goals of Environmental Science are:
– Learn how nature works
– Learn how the environment affects us
– Learn how we affect the environment
– Learn how to deal with environmental problems and live
more sustainably.
NOTE: We should not confuse environmental science with
Environmentalism – a social movement dedicated to
protecting the earth’s life-support systems for us and all
other forms of life.
Sustainability – is the ability of the earth’s
various natural systems and human cultural
systems and economies to survive and adapt to
changing environmental conditions indefinitely.

It is the central theme of this course.

 NATURAL CAPITAL = NATURAL RESOURCES + NATURAL SERVICES

NATURAL CAPITAL – natural resources and natural services that keep us

and other forms of life alive and support our economies.
NATURAL RESOURCES – are materials and energy in nature that are
essential or useful to humans.
2 classifications RENEWABLE and NONRENEWALBE.
Renewable – air, water, soil, plants, and wind etc.
Nonrenewable – copper, oil, coal, etc.
NATURAL SERVICES – functions of nature that support life and human
economies. (purification of air and water, which ecosystems provide us
with no cost)
There are 4 components of SUSTAINABILITY.
1. NUTRIENT RECYCLING
Cycling of organic matter
2. NATURAL CAPITAL DEGRADATION
Human activities using renewable resources faster than
they can be replenished
3. SEARCH FOR SCIENTIFIC SOLUTIONS
Reduce degradation of natural capital
4. TRADE-OFFS/COMPROMISES
Reach an understanding about resource management
 Examples of Degradation of Natural Capital
• Air Pollution
• Global Warming
• Soil Erosion
• Aquifer Depletion
• Shrinking Forest
• Decreased Wildlife Habitats
• Species Extinction
• Declining Ocean Fisheries
• Water Pollution
 Our Ecological Footprint

Is the amount of biologically productive land

and water needed to supply the people in a
particular country or area with resources and
to absorb and recycle the wastes and
pollution produced by such resource use.
 Pollution
Anything harmful to the health, survival, or
activities of humans or other organisms is
considered pollution.
Humans produce two types of pollution:
Point Source
Nonpoint Source
 POINT SOURCE POLLUTION
Are single, identifiable sources of pollution.

Examples:
smokestack of a coal-burning power or industrial
plant, the exhaust pipe of an automobile, and the
drainpipe of a factory.
 Nonpoint Source Pollution
Are dispersed and often difficult to identify.

Examples:
Pesticides blown from the land into the air and runoff of
fertilizers and pesticides from farmlands, lawns, gardens,
and golf courses into streams and lakes.
 Two main types of Pollutants
Biodegradable – harmful materials that can be broken
down by natural processes. Examples are sewage and
newspapers.

Nondegradable – harmful materials that natural

processes cannot breakdown. Examples are lead,
mercury, and arsenic.
 Pollutants can have 3 types of unwanted
effects.

• Disrupt or degrade life-support systems

• Damage wildlife, human health, and property
• Create nuisances such as noise and unpleasant smells,
tastes, and sights
 Clean up Pollution or Prevent it
Pollution cleanup or output pollution control
involves cleaning up or diluting pollutants after
they have been produced.
Pollution prevention or input pollution control
reduces or eliminates the production of pollutants.
 3 problems relying on pollution cleanup
• Only a temporary bandage as long as population and
consumption levels grow without corresponding
improvements in pollution control technology
• Often removes one pollutant from one part of the
environment only to cause pollution in another
• Once pollutants become dispersed into the environment
it either costs to much to clean them up or is near
impossible to reduce them to acceptable levels
5 Basic Causes of Environmental Problems
• Population Growth
• Unsustainable resource use
• Poverty
• Excluding environmental costs from market
prices
• Trying to manage nature without knowing
enough about it
 Different Views about Environmental Problems

Environmental Worldview – a set of assumptions

and values reflecting how you think the world
works and what you think your role in the world
should be.
Environmental Ethics – our beliefs about what is
right and wrong with how we treat the
environment
 Example Environmental Worldviews
Planetary management worldview:
Humans are separate from nature, nature exists for our
needs.
Stewardship worldview:
Humans can and should manage the earth for our benefit.
Environmental wisdom worldview:
Humans are part of, and totally dependent on, nature and
nature exists for all species, not just for us.
4 Scientific Principles of Sustainability
1. Reliance on Solar Energy
2. Biodiversity
3. Nutrient Cycling
4. Population Control
 SMART
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Achievable
R - Relevant
T- Time-bound
 BS CRIMINOLOGY
BLOCK O
GROUP 1: Waste Issues Along Pandawan of Mercedes, Cam. Norte.
GROUP 2: Water Supply Issue in Brgy. Osmena, Jose Panganiban,
Camarines Norte.
GROUP 3: Waste Issues in Gawad Kalinga Village, Labo, Camarines
Norte.
GROUP 4: Health Issues Along Garbage Dumping in Bibirao, Daet,
Camarines Norte
GROUP 5: Flood Problem in Brgy. Pandan, Daet, Camarines Norte.
 BS CRIMINOLOGY
BLOCK J
GROUP 1: Water Pollution Along Daet River, San Isidro, Daet, Camarines
Norte
GROUP 2: Issues in the Implementation of Waste Segragation in Pilar St.
Purok 6, Brgy. 7, Daet, Camarines Norte
GROUP 3: The Deforestation Issue in Brgy. San Isidro, San Lorenzo Ruiz,
Camarines Norte
GROUP 4: Issues in Waste Management in Brgy. 7, Mercedes, Camarines
Norte.
GROUP 5: Waste Issues Along San Roque Shorline, Mercedes, Camarines
Norte
 BS CRIMINOLOGY
BLOCK I
GROUP 1: Water Pollution of Daet River along Brgy. Lag-on, Daet,
Camarines Norte.
GROUP 2: Developed Management for Waste Segragation in Purok 5,
Pasig, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte.
GROUP 3: Behavioral Problem of Tourist on Waste Disposal along
Bagasbas Road, Brgy. Bagasbas, Daet, Camarines Norte.
GROUP 4: Improper Waste Disposal Along Basud River, Sipi Poblacion 2,
Basud, Camarines Norte
GROUP 5: Flood Problem in Purok 2, Brgy. Camambugan, Daet,
Camarines Norte.
 BS NURSING
BLOCK I
GROUP 1: Misconception Regarding the Proper use of Antibiotics in Brgy.
Magang, Daet, Camarines Norte.
GROUP 2: Cigarette Smoking Problems in Purok 4, Brgy. Mampili, Basud,
Camarines Norte
GROUP 3: THE EARLY PREGNANCY PROBLEM IN BRGY PAGSANGAHAN,
BASUD, CAMARINES NORTE
GROUP 4: Improper Hand Hygiene and Food Deprivation of Children in
Gawad Kalinga, Brgy. San Jose, Talisay, Camarines Norte.
GROUP 5: Respiratory Problems of the Residents of Brgy. Mantagbac,
Daet, Camarines Norte.
 BS NURSING BLOCK G
GROUP 1: The Health Condition of Street Dwellers Around Daet Centro,
Daet, Camarines Norte.

GROUP 2: Illiteracy on Health Impacts of e-cigarette (Vape) Users of Brgy.

Mantagbac, Daet, Camarines Norte

GROUP 3: A Case Study on the Feasibility of Health Center in Brgy.

Gahonon, Daet, Camarines Norte.

GROUP 4: Adverse Effects of Leaching on the Environment and Health of

Small-scale Miners in Brgy. Gumaus, Paracle, Camarines Norte

GROUP 5: Malnutrition Problem of Children in Brgy. 4, Mercedes,

Camarines Norte.
 Case Study
Title
Introduction
a. Statement of the Problem
b. Signifance of the Case Study
c. Definition of Terms
Body
a. Background of the Study
b. Arguments
c. Implementation
Conclusion
a. Summary
b. Lesson Learned
c. Recommendation (Optional)
Reference
Curriculum Vitae
FLOW OF ENERGY
IN ECOSYSTEM

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
 is the ability to do work.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
 Food chain a linear
transfer of energy in
an ecosystem.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
 Food web is the
complex food chains.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
 Energy Pyramid shows the
transfer of energy in each
trophic level.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
 BIOGEOCHEMICAL
CYCLE

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
 ACTIVITY
1. What initiatives can you do as a student to
reduce adverse impacts on our biogeochemical
cycles?
2. Illustrate the flow of cbon dioxide through the
carbon cycle. Describe the ways by which humans
influence the carbon cycle?
3. Make at least 5 food chains from forest
ecosystem.