15 Reasons Why You Should Study Environmental Science

We live in an age that experiences a lot of environmental challenges which have been threatening the existence of living and non-living things. This Earth in which we breathe, eat and live, is not as healthy as it was in the distant past; this is the major reason why you should be motivated to study environmental science and become more aware of the unhealthy patterns trending in the environment within the Earth; furthermore, environmental studies will keep you updated about the environmental issues that affect the world, and which may likely continue to do so throughout our lifetime.

It’s understandable if I sound biased by stating that environmental science is the most important subject because it cuts across all human beings, animals, and non-living things in the world. It is important to understand how the Earth works, how our activities affect its life-supporting capability, and how we can reduce negative environmental impacts on it—and probably on the wider and ever-expanding cosmos. Numerous environmental problems have shown that humans might have taken natural resources for granted; in fact, facts in recorded history have shown that for over a century or more, humans have lost some connection with nature because they have mismanaged natural resources.

Many people seem to think that mankind is smarter than nature and that nature doesn’t have the ability to handle anything or everything—this is not true. The recent rise in applications of green technology has shown that nature has the capacity to do a lot of things without harming life to the extent that most non-green scientific and technological developments have. By studying environmental science, you’ll be aware of the role you have to play in order to protect Mother Nature. With regard to roles, some countries have taken some important steps by including environmental science education in all levels of their curricula. For example, the study of environmental science is compulsory in India, regardless of one’s course/subject of study.

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The Earth, its environment, and human life are interwoven, and go together, hand in hand. Imagine what would happen if all natural resources become extinct; would anyone survive? No! The truth is that we need the environment, and are completely dependent on it; therefore, it is our collective responsibility to be aware of world-threatening issues like the global rise in temperature, exploitation, and depletion of natural resources, excess pollution of air, water, and land, and many other issues that appear on TV, and also in print, and on social media.

It seems that people have left issues related to environmental degradation in the hands of business owners and governments. There will be no significant positive impact on the world’s environment if we leave such a great responsibility in the hands of governments and business owners without making any personal input. We cannot assume that clean air, water and soil will continue to be sustained if we stand and stare at the ways in which they are being polluted without protecting them. Everyone must join hands to protect and sustain our planet’s resources because we are the ones who pollute it, and overuse and mismanage its resources; we humans are the only living creatures who are highly capable of taking actions to halt the negative impacts of our actions/activities on the environment.

Why awareness is important: studying environmental science enhances environmental awareness

• Awareness is important because it helps us to be proactive rather than retroactive. If you haven’t been creating time to think or read about the environment, then you need to start doing so consistently because it can enhance and sustain your awareness about it. All you need to do is turn on the TV, watch environmental news online, or read environmental articles—similar to the one you are reading now. Take about 20 or 30 minutes out of each day and find out what is happening in the environment.

• Awareness is important because it keeps you from remaining/becoming ignorant. Ignorance is a barrier against progress; the only way to fight it is by studying/acquiring knowledge and always ensuring that we are up to date with current information and trends. Studying should go hand in hand with asking questions and looking for answers.

Brief history of environmental evolution & impact of human activities on environment

Based on a lot of research and evidence from carbon dating, it is believed that the Earth was formed about 4.5 billion years ago, and the evolution of life started about 4 billion years ago. During this period, life continuously evolved; at the same time, numerous changes have occurred on the Earth which has gradually transformed from a primitive hostile environment into a technologically advanced and civilized environment and has faced a lot of negative impacts from civilization.

The human species is the only one believed to have drastically modified the Earth for the past thousands of years in order to fulfill its desires and aspirations to become “more comfortable”. While plants and other animals usually undergo gradual physiological and genetic changes to adapt to weather and environmental changes, human beings can change their behavior and adapt to newer environmental conditions within a few years.

Within the last 50 years, there has been a drastic increase in population, depletion of natural resources, excessive pollution of the environment, and an exponential increase in bye-products resulting from human activities. Scientific/technological developments helped mankind to “progress” in the areas of education, technology, health, food security, luxury, etc., but at the same time, the natural resources of the Earth have been exploited beyond the capacity of the Earth to “replenish” or “regenerate” them. In summary, while mankind has advanced scientifically, the same mankind has also contaminated water bodies, air, soil, and the natural environment with products generated as a result of development. These products along with certain activities have degraded and destroyed habitats and threatened biodiversity and human existence.

Now, back to the title of this article: “15 reasons why you should study environmental science”; the reasons are as follows:

1. Study environmental science to become more aware that environmental problems (new, past and present) are not only local, but global too. It’s quite funny that many people—especially laypeople—don’t know what “global warming” is, especially in many cities and rural areas in Africa. The study of environmental science will keep you informed about environmental problems such as global warming, climate change, depletion of the ozone layer, acid rains, and the negative impact of microplastics on marine environments and biodiversity, which are not only national/local problems, but global problems as well. Efforts from experts and everybody will be needed to tackle environmental problems head-on.

2. Study environmental science to understand how the impact of development, increase in population, infrastructures, and transportation systems negatively affect the environment and natural ecosystem; knowledge of these will make you more concerned about the environment and think about how to protect it more than you’ve been doing.

3. Study environmental science to become more familiar with available solutions to different environmental problems caused by poor hygiene, energy waste, etc., and apply them in ways that will create and preserve a healthier environment for future generations.

4. Study environmental science to be more aware of the environmental implications of your activities/actions, and use that knowledge to prevent/control further pollution, and efficiently utilize the resources you come in contact with on a daily basis.

5. Study environmental science to gain knowledge on how to apply various methods that can prevent/control pollution, and create a less polluted or pollution-free environment containing clean air, water, food, and land.

6. Study environmental science to acquire knowledge on how to use resources such as water, land, minerals, and fossil fuels in an efficient manner, and with maximum utility and minimum wastage—by using conservation, reuse, and recycling strategies.

7. Study environmental science to know how to sustain the environment through a combination of different disciplines (inter-disciplinary knowledge), and show more concern for all elements of nature, in every walk of your life, and in an all-encompassing manner.

8. Study environmental science to become ever-conscious of humanity’s collective responsibility to pass a more comfortable and livable world into the hands of successive generations. In order to do this, each one of us has to figure out how to live more sustainably as a collective society so that there will be no threatening negative impacts on the environment.

9. Study environmental science so that—like specialists—you can be able to enhance the knowledge you have and adjust its application in ways that would mitigate negative-impacting environmental changes, or halt them completely. It’s possible for anybody (a layman, a scientist, or a specialist) who reflects deeply on the environment to come up with ideas to tackle problems associated with it.

10. Study environmental science to acquire a specialist’s understanding of the environment within the world around you. Do you know what could/would happen if garbage is littered indiscriminately around your house? Do you know how soil microbes affect the health of people? Do you know how climate change negatively influences the health of animals and trees around us? Do you know how environmental policies impact sustainability and alternative energy? Well, the study of environmental science will provide answers to these questions, and more.

11. Study environmental science to gain more knowledge about sustainable ways of living that are being discovered by scientists, specialists, and laypeople. Environmental sustainability doesn’t propose that people should not live a luxurious lifestyle, but it does advocate that people be aware of how to minimize use/consume resources, and control the disposal of waste; this includes minimizing the consumption of energy in houses, using disposal bins to dispose waste, reusing and recycling more waste/materials/products that are reusable or recyclable, utilizing eco-friendly and green products, etc. With the way natural resources are currently being depleted, they will dry up in no time, and this will affect the survival of future generations.

12. Study environmental science to become a practitioner of/advocator for the conservation of biodiversity. Biodiversity can be defined as the variety of life forms living in and on the Earth. The current rate of biodiversity loss and extinction of living species is at an all-time high. Studying environmental science can make you be aware and become an advocator against this incessant trend.

13. Study environmental science to understand how humans and other living organisms depend on each other. Studying environmental science will help you understand the relationship between humans and other living organisms. Human beings breathe out carbon dioxide which is used by plants for photosynthesis. On the other hand, plants release oxygen which humans use for respiration. Animal wastes are being used as fertilizer and nutrients for the growth of plants and other microorganisms. Also, humans and animals use plants as food. In summary, Mother Nature has made plants, human beings, and microorganisms depend on each other for survival.

14. Study environmental science to be cognizant of the environmental importance of renewable energy forms which can be easily produced, unlike non-renewable energy forms (like petrol, diesel, etc.) which can’t be easily produced, and are believed to be the major causes of global warming and climate change.

15. Study environmental science to be more aware that the Earth is for mankind and all other living things. Ethically or morally speaking, all living things deserve care and respect. None of us have the right to take all resources and kill whole species for our own use. We do not have the right to drive other living things into extinction: all species have a right to exist.