Science

1. ES101 9/2/10
• If you had lab yesterday and
still need to turn in the
answers to the “Round
River” questions, do that at
the end of class.
• You do not need to turn in
#s 6 & 7 . . . you are
responsible for them.
I. What is science?
II.Scientific Method

2. Directions for Setting Up Your Clicker
1. make sure no lights are flashing on your clicker
2. Press the “GO” button (lower left corner). You
should see the light blinking red-green-red-green.
3. Press “4” then “1.”
4. Press the “GO” button again.
5. You should now see a constant green light.
6. To check that it worked, press any button (except
“GO”) and you should see a green light.
7. If you see a red light, try steps 1 through 4 again.
8. If it still doesn’t work, see me at end of lecture.

3. Do we have your clicker number?
1. I entered my clicker
number in lab
yesterday.
2. I emailed my clicker
number to my prof.
3. I still need to give my
clicker number to my
lab instructor.

4. In lecture, we recommend that you write
down all text that appears in the color
1. green
2. white
3. yellow

5. Taking notes from Powerpoint!
For this class:
• Things you need to know are written in white
• Required info repeated from a previous slide
written in green
• Examples, case studies, etc. are written in
yellow – don’t need to write it down

6. ES Goal: Sustainability
= Ecological “balance” and human progress that
last over the long term
= meeting the needs of the present generation (of
all species) without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs

7. Evidence of Sustainability?
• Reducing rates of human population growth
• Bald eagle populations have recovered!
• In U.S. we don’t dump raw sewage into the
water
• Many laws protecting the environment
• Awareness of the problem
• Etc.!

8. Evidence of unsustainability?
• Global climate change, increasing greenhouse
gases
• Human population still growing fast
• More wars, conflicts over resources
• Running out of oil
• Species going extinct faster than they would
without humans
• Etc.!

9. How to achieve Sustainability?
• Study the problem – scientific method, critical
thinking
• Understand the natural world
• Understand human impacts
• Learn how to change human behavior! Via laws,
persuasion, communication, business, arts, etc.!

10. What is science?
= A way of knowing the world
= A method of finding answers
Science is:
1. Empirical: Studies only things that physically
exist (made of matter or energy)
2. Testable: If no way to collect data, can’t be
science
3. Repeatable: Several scientists must get same
results
4. Falsifiable: New evidence will “falsify” or
disprove scientific ideas

11. Steps in the scientific method
1. Observation – Perceive something interesting,
identify a question
2. Hypothesis – A possible explanation of the
observation or answer to the question.
– Must have an independent variable (cause)
and a dependent variable (effect)
3. Test – Collect data on the independent and
dependent variables
4. Conclusion – Examine data, decide if
hypothesis is supported or rejected.

12. The scientific method
1. Observation
2. Hypothesis
3. Test
4. Conclusion
If hypothesis is
rejected, start
again!
If
hypothesis
is
supported,
dig deeper;
test new
ideas.

13. If
hypothesis
is
supported,
dig deeper;
test new
ideas.
• if hypoth. supported many times
Theory – hypothesis that has been
tested many times and never
disproven
Natural Law – Theory that holds
true everywhere

14. Example of Using the Sci. Method
to help solve an envi. problem – The BP Oil Spill
Photo from Yahoo! News: Oil swirls in the Gulf of Mexico currents
May 6. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

15. Example of Using the Sci. Method
to help solve an envi. problem – The BP Oil Spill
1. Observation
Question: Are there organisms that help break
down the oil?

16. • naturally occurring bacteria can
break down oil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDkCqmv2GVU

17. • naturally occurring (native)
bacteria do the best job
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDkCqmv2GVU

18. • lab engineered bacteria should
be used
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM5bQscTjgs

19. What do you think would do the best job
“eating” oil from the BP oil spill?
1. native bacteria
.
2. lab bacteria

20. How much would you be willing to bet that
you are correct?
1. lunch money
2. your iPod
3. $1000
4. your tuition
money

21. Example of Using the Sci. Method
to help solve an envi. problem – The BP Oil Spill
1. Observation
Question: Are there organisms that help break
down the oil?
• naturally occurring bacteria can break down oil
• native bacteria do the best job
• lab bacteria should be used
2.Hypothesis

22. 2. Hypothesis
dependent variable (effect)
amount of oil “eaten”
independent variable (cause)
type of bacteria (native vs. lab)

23. 2. Hypothesis
dependent variable (effect)
amount of oil eaten
independent variable (cause)
type of bacteria (“natural” vs. lab)
Naturally occurring bacteria will “eat” more oil
per unit time than lab engineered bacteria.

24. • If still don’t have a clicker, for today only, turn in
a paper with your name and section number.
• Make sure we have your clicker number! You
can write it and your name and your section
number on a piece of paper and turn it in now.
Lab Section Number
Wed 8am, Rolke 31
Wed 10am, Koning 32
Wed 2pm, Singleton 33
Wed 4pm, Singleton 34
Fri 12pm, Rolke 36