Req 1 — Defining Environmental Science

What Is Environmental Science?

Environmental science is the study of how the natural world works — and how humans affect it. It combines ideas from biology, chemistry, geology, and other sciences to answer questions about the air, water, land, and living things around us.

Here is a simple way to think about it: environmental science looks at three big things.

1. How nature works on its own. How do forests grow? How does water move through the ground? How do animals depend on each other?
2. How humans change nature. What happens when factories release chemicals into a river? What happens when we clear a forest to build houses?
3. How we can fix the damage and prevent more. Can we clean up polluted lakes? Can we build things without destroying habitats?

Environmental science is not just one subject in a textbook. It is an approach — using observation, data, and experiments to understand the environment and make better decisions.

The Three Pillars: Understand, Conserve, Improve

When the requirement asks how science helps us “understand, conserve, and improve” the environment, it is asking you to think about three connected goals.

Understand

Before you can solve a problem, you need to understand it. Scientists collect data through observation, field studies, and experiments. They measure things like water quality, air pollution levels, animal populations, and soil composition. This data reveals patterns — some healthy, some alarming.

For example, scientists studying bird populations noticed a sharp decline in bald eagles in the mid-1900s. By investigating, they discovered that the pesticide DDT was making eagle eggshells so thin they cracked before chicks could hatch. Without that scientific understanding, nobody would have known what was killing the eagles.

Conserve

Conservation means protecting what we have. Once scientists understand how an ecosystem works, they can identify what it needs to stay healthy. Conservation efforts include protecting endangered species, preserving wetlands, managing forests, and reducing pollution.

Improve

Sometimes the environment has already been damaged, and we need to actively repair it. This is where restoration and engineering come in. Scientists and engineers work to clean up oil spills, restore wetlands, replant forests, remove invasive species, and redesign cities to be more sustainable.

The cleanup of the Cuyahoga River in Ohio is a powerful example. Once so polluted it caught fire, the river is now home to dozens of fish species and is safe for recreation — thanks to decades of scientific study and environmental laws.

How to Prepare for This Requirement

Your counselor will ask you to describe environmental science in your own words. That means you should not memorize a textbook definition. Instead, think about what environmental science means to you. Consider these questions as you prepare:

• What environmental issues have you noticed in your own community?
• Have you ever seen pollution, litter, or habitat loss firsthand?
• What role does science play in solving those problems?

With a clear understanding of what environmental science is and why it matters, you are ready to get hands-on.