Video Transcript

In this course, you will examine the relationships between organisms and the environment. You will learn about Earth's systems, its biodiversity, and the distinct roles that organisms play in their ecosystems. This course also introduces you to population dynamics and how human populations, resources, and environmental quality interact. You will have a chance to evaluate the impacts of research on scientific thought and environmental policy by using scientific practices, evidence-based data, communication strategies, and graphic displays.

Course Objectives

• Describe science and its characteristics. 
• Perform statistical analysis on data while identifying and predicting trends from it. 
• Evaluate the impact of research. 
• Research important contributions to environmental science as well as careers in this discipline. 
• Identify different components of Earth's spheres. 
• Diagram abiotic cycles. 
• Describe the Law of Conservation and relate it to the Sun's influence on Earth. 
• Define ecosystems and describe the roles of organisms within them. 
• Evaluate food chains and food webs and describe the movement of matter and energy through them in terms of the Law of Conservation.
• Distinguish between biotic and abiotic components in an ecosystem, and discuss major ecosystem changes. 
• Describe populations and discuss factors that affect them. 
• Interpret and predict trends from population data. 
• Analyze the effects of human activities on the environment.