Ask A Scientist© Environmental Science Archive

Author:      stephanie
What is environmental science?

Response #:  1 of 1
Author:      mortis
Environmental science is an academic discipline that began on college campuses 
in the early seventies to focus on issues that cross the boundaries of other 
scientific disciplines such as biology and chemistry or civil engineering.  
Scientists and engineers traditionally focus on "systems" - organizations of 
matter and energy that have naturally occurring or rationally designed 
structures and functions.  However, systems operate in "environments" - that 
which surrounds systems.  Environmental scientists are concerned with how 
environments affect systems and how systems affect environments.  The National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 requires all building and manufacturing 
projects that are funded by the government to be reviewed for environmental 
impacts in a document called an environmental impact statement.  Environmental 
Science grew up as a response to the need for scientists and engineers who are 
trained in environmental impact assessment techniques.