Why Is It Important to Study Environmental Science ?
Welcome to environmental science, an interdisciplinary study of how the earth works, how we interact with the earth, and how we can deal with the environmental
problems we face. Because environmental issues affect every part of your life, the concepts, information, and issues discussed in this book and the course you are taking will be useful to you now and throughout your life.
Understandably, we are biased, but we strongly believe that environmental science is the single most important course in your education. What could be more important than learning how the earth works, how we are affecting its life support system, and how we can reduce our environmental impact? We live in an incredibly challenging era. We are becom-
ing increasingly aware that during this century we need to make a new cultural transition in which we learn how to live more sustainably by sharply reducing the degradation of our life-support system. We hope this book will inspire you to become involved in this change in the way we view and treat the earth, which sustains us and our economies and all other living things.
You Can Improve Your Study and Learning Skills
Maximizing your ability to learn should be one of your most important life time educational goals. It involves continually trying to improve your study and learning skills. Here are some suggestions for doing so:
Develop a passion for learning.
As the famous physicist and philosopher Albert Einstein put it, “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”
Get organized.
Becoming more efficient at studying gives you more time for other interests.
Make daily to-do lists in writing.
Put items in order of im- portance, focus on the most important tasks, and assign a time to work on these items. Because life is full of uncertainties, you might be lucky to accomplish half of the items on your daily list. Shift your schedule as needed to accomplish the most important items.
Set up a study routine in a distraction-free environment.
Develop a written daily study schedule and stick to it. Study in a quiet, well-lighted space. Work while sitting at
a desk or table—not lying down on a couch or bed. Take breaks every hour or so. During each break, take several
deep breaths and move around; this will help you to stay more alert and focused.
Avoid procrastination
putting work off until another time. Do not fall behind on your reading and other assignments. Set aside a particular time for studying each day and make it a part of your daily routine.
Do not eat dessert first.
Otherwise, you may never get to the main meal (studying). When you have accomplished your study goals, reward yourself with dessert (play or leisure).
Make hills out of mountains.
It is psychologically difficult to climb a mountain, which is what reading an entire book, reading a chapter in a book, writing a paper, or cramming to study for a test can feel like. Instead break these large tasks (mountains) down into a series of small tasks (hills). Each day, read a few pages of a book or chapter, write a few paragraphs of a paper, and review what you have studied and learned. As American automobile designer and builder Henry Ford put it, “Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.”
Look at the big picture first.
Get an overview of an assigned reading in this book by looking at the Key Questions and Concepts box at the beginning of each chapter. It lists key questions explored in the chapter sections and the corresponding key concepts, which are the critical lessons to be learned in the chapter. Use this list as a chapter roadmap. When you finish a chapter you can also use it to review. Ask and answer questions as you read. For example, “What is the main point of a particular subsection or paragraphe ?”
Relate your own questions to the key questions and key concepts being addressed in each major chapter section. In this way, you can flesh out a chapter outline to help you understand the chapter material. You may even want to do such an outline in writing. Focus on key terms. Use the glossary in this textbook to look up the meanings of terms or words you do not understand. This book shows all key terms in boldface type and lesser, but still important, terms in italicized type.
Description
Inspiring people to care about the planet.” In the new edition of ESSENTIALS OF ECOLOGY, authors Tyler Miller and Scott Spoolman have partnered with the National Geographic Society to develop a text designed to equip students with the inspiration and knowledge they need to make a difference solving today’s environmental issues. Exclusive content highlights important work of National Geographic Explorers, and features over 100 new photos, maps, and illustrations that bring course concepts to life. Using sustainability as the integrating theme, ESSENTIALS OF ECOLOGY 7e, covers scientific principles and concepts, ecosystems, evolution, biodiversity, population ecology, and more. In addition to the integration of new and engaging National Geographic content, every chapter has been thoroughly updated and 6 new Core Case Studies offer current examples of environmental problems and scenarios for potential solutions. The concept-centered approach used in the text transforms complex environmental topics and issues into key concepts that students will understand and remember. Overall, by framing the concepts with goals for more sustainable lifestyles and human communities, students see how promising the future can be and their important role in shaping it.
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