Environmental Studies: Learning Resources

Most of the STEM subjects have an environmental specialty.  In fact, complex problems often have multiple disciplines working together to find the answers.

Often biologists and medical experts are vocal regarding how people and their health are being adversely impacted.  They can identify many environmental problems.  It is a significant contribution to finding the solutions.  The first step must be to identify the problem.  Only then can the work be focused on a solution.

Before one can specialize, one must grasp the basics of the field.  Mastery of the field cannot be avoided.  One must know basic biology before one can specialize.  Also, in order to be taken seriously there is a need for a demonstrated academic achievement in the field.  So, if the goal is to become a biologist who will work in environmental issues one must first learn biology.

Similarly, there are environmental issues that can be of concern to botanists.  In particular are the issue of deforestation, and the work needed in reforestation.  Since trees reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, there are direct connections between botany and global warming.  So, there is a place for the environmentally conscious to make an impact in botany.

Identifying the problems is a start, but finding the solutions is the next step.  While biologists can discuss what air and water pollutants can do harm, the removal of those pollutants requires chemistry.  Dangerous chemical compounds can be rendered harmless by having them undergo reactions that have only benign products.

One place chemistry is really important is in the ozone depletion problem.  A chlorine atom can remove an oxygen atom from the three-atom ozone molecule, lose that chlorine, and attack another ozone molecule.  Some ozone depleting compounds break into a chain of compounds with multiple products in the chain capable of ozone depletion.  Determining the interaction of molecules is part of chemistry.

Some of the dangers of global warming might come from biologists, since the climate can impact the ecological systems of the Earth.  But after spreading the alarm, when it comes to alternate energy sources one must turn to physics. 

Currently we should consider three alternate energy resources.  Solar energy and wind power are familiar to many of us, and the theory for these can be used in understanding basic kits that provide a deeper reading.  The third is not conducive to a hands-on study, geothermal power.  But the knowledge of this field is something that can be obtained by a student

Understanding the consequences of such things as global warming and ozone depletion is a meteorological concern.  Physicists can explain what global warming is, but how it impacts the weather and climate require specialized knowledge. 

Geology is important if we are to go to geothermal power.  Knowing where the Earth is warm enough close to the surface is significant in placement of power plants that are built at reduced costs.

While it is not as publicized as much as it perhaps should be, the planet Venus has an atmosphere full of greenhouse gases.  The gases come from volcanic activity, not man.  However, the conditions are extreme.  The planet has a surface heated to about nine hundred degrees Fahrenheit.  This gives pause to what could happen on Earth.

Observing other bodies in the sky can often serve as a laboratory to show how bad things can really get.

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