Details Title: Chapter one Description: SC225: Environmental Science Total Flash Cards: 14 Created: 09/11/2009 16:58:46		New Users: To study from this flashcard set, or to create your own your own study flash cards, REGISTER HERE. Existing Users: CLICK HERE. Additional Environmental Studies Flashcards
Cards in this set: Term  What is one of the preeminent challenges of environmental science? Definition  Sustainable living     CHAPTER 1, p. 2 Term What is environmental science? Definition The systematic study of our environment.   CHAPTER 1, p. 4; Glossary, p. 382  Term What are the four criteria for environmental literacy suggested by the National Environmental Education Advancement Project in Wisconsin? Definition 1. Awareness and appreciation of the natural and built environment 2. Knowledge of natural systems and ecological concepts 3. Understanding of current environmental issues 4. Ability to use analytical and problem-solving skills on environmental issues   CHAPTER 1, p. 4 Term  According to our textbook, what should be a central theme of human activity?   Definition Sustainability     CHAPTER 1, p. 9 Term What is science?   Definition A process for producing empirical knowledge by observing natural phenomena.   CHAPTER 1, p. 11 Term What is empiricism?   Definition Careful observation of the world’s fundamental processes and natural laws to gain understanding.   CHAPTER 1, p. 11 Term What does the peer review process ensure? Definition Integrity, skepticism, and accuracy through good standards in study design, data collection, and interpretation of results.   CHAPTER 1, p. 11 Term What is inductive reasoning? Definition Reasoning from many observations to produce a general rule. We observe, for example, that birds appear and disappear as a year goes by. Through many repeated observations in different places, we can infer that the birds move from place to place. We can develop a general rule that birds migrate seasonally.   CHAPTER 1, p. 12; Glossary, p. 383 Term According to our textbook, what six steps does the normal sequence for the scientific method include? Definition 1. Identify question 2. Form testable hypothesis 3. Collect data to test hypothesis 4. Interpret results 5. Report for peer review 6. Publish findings   CHAPTER 1, p. 12; Glossary, p. 386 Term Sound experimental design should… Definition 1. have extremely strong controls 2. strictly define variables into measurable factors 2. avoid bias   CHAPTER 1, p. 15 Term What is a paradigm shift? Definition A dramatic change to scientific consensus occurring when new ideas emerge.     CHAPTER 1, p. 16 Term What is bias? Definition An inclination or preference preventing unprejudiced consideration of information. For example, being swayed by a peer group to vote for a specific political party.   CHAPTER 1, pp. 15-16 Term According to our textbook, what are some of the tools we can use to identify false messages? Definition 1. Reproducibility 2. Peer review 3. Skepticism 4. Critical thinking 5. Dr. Sagan’s Baloney Detector   CHAPTER 1, pp. 11 & 17 Term What did astronomer Dr. Carl Sagan propose to evaluate scientific claims?   Definition Questions for Baloney Detection   CHAPTER 1, p. 17