How Do We Study Environmental Science?

Science is the search for knowledge, and the job of a scientist is to find an accurate and precise answer to questions or problems. All scientists use the scientific method in some form or fashion to gather these answers and knowledge. Environmental scientists are no different.

Why use the Scientific Method?

The scientific method has been around since the 17th century. It is a process that includes observations, understanding a problem, hypothesizing a solution, experimentation, measurement, and evaluation. There are many times when an initial experiment leads to a modification of the hypothesis and reworking the trial to come up with a solution. The point is, the scientific method is a fluid process that is continuously evolving.

Look at the image below and review the parts of the scientific method.

Let's See it in Action

As you are watching the video, try to identify the steps of the scientific method this scientist is using to develop a way to create hydrogen fuel.

Do all areas of science use the scientific method exactly the same way each time?

No, they don’t. There are some fields of science that are easier to collect information for such as looking at DNA sequences of primates. A scientist can collect blood samples, run DNA, and compare the sequences. This is much easier to look at than say how dinosaurs digested their food. It’s hard to take a real look at dinosaurs from over millions of years ago.

When direct experimentation is not possible, such as with the dinosaurs, the scientific method can be modified. But even when the scientific method is adjusted to suit the problem being studied; the goal remains the same – to gain knowledge through asking questions, gathering information, and evaluation of the data -- all to develop an answer.

Pure vs. Applied Sciences

Environmental scientists are often trying to understand our environment to solve a problem. For this, an environmental scientist uses two basic types of science – Pure and Applied.

Learn about the difference and similarities below:

When making decisions about the environment scientists use many aspects of the scientific method as well as the pure and applied sciences in order to construct an environmental decision-making model. The decision-making model provides a systematic approach for making decisions. When making decisions, several values must be considered when constructing this model: aesthetic, economic, environmental, educational, ethical/moral, health, recreational, scientific, and social/cultural. Hence another reason environmental science is an interdisciplinary field.

Scientists use this decision making model when making choices about the environment:

This model can be helpful when having to make difficult decisions.

You can see the scientific data decision-making model in action in the below video:

How Do We Study Environmental Science?

Before You Go, You Need to Know

The following key points are from this explore section of the lesson. You must know the following information before moving to the next lesson. This is just a summary of the key points.

The steps of the scientific method are a basis for all scientific research!

You need to know the steps of the scientific method!

Make an observation
Ask a question
Formulate a hypothesis
Gather information by testing the hypotheses
Make a claim based on data or rework and retest the hypothesis

Understand that pure science is for the sake of learning and applied science uses information to solve a problem. Pure science often, but not always leads to applied science.

Scientists use the decision-making process to help them have a systematic approach to making decisions. The decision-making process includes:

Gathering information
Assessing which of the above values are relevant to the decision at hand
Examine short and long-term consequences
Analyzing data they have collected

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