ENVIRONMENT

The study of the interactions among the physical, chemical and biological components of
the environment.

SCIENCE

Is a systematic enterprise of gathering knowledge about the world and organizing and
condensing that knowledge into testable laws and theories. As knowledge has increased, some
methods have proved more reliable than others, and today the scientific method is the standard
for science.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences

(including physics, chemistry, biology, soil science, geology, and geography) to the study of the
environment, and the solution of environmental problems. Environmental science provides an
integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems.

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge,

or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. A scientific method consists of the collection of
data through observation and experimentation, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.

ECOLOGY

Is the scientific study of the distributions, abundance, share affects, and relations of
organisms and their interactions with each other in a common environment.

BIOSPHERE

Is the global sum of all ecosystems. The biosphere is postulated to have evolved,
beginning through a process of biogenesis or biopoesis, at least some 3.5 billion years ago.

ECOSYSTEM

Consists of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving,
physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil,
water, and sunlight. Ecosystems can be permanent or temporary. Ecosystems usually form a
number of food webs.
Ecosystem is a functional unit consisting of living things in a given area, non-living
chemical and physical factors of their environment, linked together through nutrient cycle and
energy flow.

WHY DO WE HAVE TO STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE?

•Environmental science is important for economy and welfare of human society.

•It helps us in careful handling of the issues like pollution, overexploitation of natural resources,
food security and sustainable development.
•Excessive use of agrochemicals has degraded the environment and has disturbed the ecological
balance.
•Environmental science helps us to find ways and means to maintain the ecological balance.
•It demonstrate how man can derive benefits from environment without destroying it.
•It trains us to conserve ours fast depleting natural resources.
•It helps to understand different food chain and ecological balance in nature.
•It directs attention towards the problems of population explosion, depletion of natural resources
and pollution and the methods of solving such problems.