ENV100Y5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Edward Burtynsky, Null Hypothesis, Environmentalism
Module 1: May 7-18
Date: Monday, May 7
SESSION 1: COURSE/SOURCE INTRODUCTION
Edward Burtynsky takes photos of bad environmental disasters that are striking and beautiful,
but bad - push and pull, retract and attract, necessary, but bad.
Environment
● Defining the term defines
○ Environment is not just a thing that is out there, but it includes us
● Biotic (living things) - animals, plants, forests, soils, etc
● Abiotic (nonliving things) - Continents, rocks, oceans, clouds, ice caps, etc
● Our built environments - roads, buildings, dams, factories, etc.
● Social relationships and institutions - governments, universities, religions, economies,
cultures, etc.
Environmental science vs. Environmentalism
● Environmental Science - interdisciplinary undertaking
○ Definition: Pursuit of knowledge about natural world
○ How natural world works
○ How natural resources and processes support life
○ How human activities affect environment (our relationship with environment)
● Scientist try to remain objective.
○ Science informs our attempt to solve & prevent environmental problems
(environmental science can lead to environmentalism, but it is not the same)
● Environmentalism
○ Definition: A social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world
For the practice quiz, you'll probably want to know (based on what has been emphasized in
lecture):
● What does the environment encompass - abiotic, biotic, built environments; all the
organisms within; our relationship with it, etc.
● the difference between environmental science (The study of the relationship between the
environment and the organisms within it, i.e. abiotic, biotic, and built environments) and
environmentalism (a social movement about protecting the environment)
● The definition of hypothesis vs null hypothesis (no effect) and prediction (if, then)
● The definition of an experiment (test hypothesis) along with design
● Basic understanding of the syllabus (hinted at), such as:
○ Information about modules, assignments, quizzes available on blackboard
○ How will exam be determined? How to defer an exam?
○ What to do when submitting a petition vs. special consideration? What
documents are required? What dropbox do you use?
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
69
ENV100Y5 Full Course Notes
Verified Note
69 documents
Document Summary
Edward burtynsky takes photos of bad environmental disasters that are striking and beautiful, but bad - push and pull, retract and attract, necessary, but bad. Environment is not just a thing that is out there, but it includes us. Biotic (living things) - animals, plants, forests, soils, etc. Abiotic (nonliving things) - continents, rocks, oceans, clouds, ice caps, etc. Our built environments - roads, buildings, dams, factories, etc. Social relationships and institutions - governments, universities, religions, economies, cultures, etc. Definition: pursuit of knowledge about natural world. How natural resources and processes support life. How human activities affect environment (our relationship with environment) Science informs our attempt to solve & prevent environmental problems (environmental science can lead to environmentalism, but it is not the same) Definition: a social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world. For the practice quiz, you"ll probably want to know (based on what has been emphasized in lecture):
