Environmental Science

Unit 1: How are Earth’s dynamic systems interconnected to support life?

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary, investigative science that explores the interactions between living and non-living elements that sustain Earth systems, as well as human impacts on them. In Unit 1, students examine the processes, interactions and changes occurring within and between the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. The focus is on how ecosystem functioning can influence many local, regional and global environmental conditions such as plant productivity, soil fertility, water quality and air quality. 

On completion of this unit the student should be able to:

• Describe the movement of energy and nutrients across Earth’s four interrelated systems
• Analyse how dynamic interactions among biotic and abiotic components of selected local and regional ecosystems contribute to their capacity to support life and sustain ecological integrity
• Analyse how changes occurring at various time and spatial scales influence Earth’s characteristics and interrelated systems
• Assess the impact of diverse stakeholder values, knowledge and priorities in the solutions-focused management of a selected regional environmental challenge
• Draw evidence-based conclusions from primary data generated from a student-designed scientific investigation related to ecosystem components, ecosystem monitoring and/or change affecting Earth's systems

Unit 2: What affects Earth’s capacity to sustain life?

In this unit students consider pollution as well as food and water security as complex and systemic environmental challenges facing current and future generations. They examine the characteristics, impacts, assessment and management of a range of pollutants that are emitted or discharged into Earth’s air, soil, water and biological systems, and explore factors that limit and enable the sustainable supply of adequate and affordable food and water.

On completion of this unit the student should be able to:

• Explain how the chemical and physical characteristics of pollutants impact on Earth’s four systems, and recommend and justify a range of options for managing the local and global impacts of pollution
• Compare the advantages and limitations of different agricultural systems for achieving regional and global food security, evaluate the use of ecological footprint analysis for assessing future food and/or water security, and recommend and justify a range of options for improving food and/or water security for a nominated region
• Investigate and explain how science can be applied to address the impacts of natural and human activities in the context of the management of a selected pollutant

Unit 3: How can biodiversity and development be sustained?

In this unit students focus on environmental management through the application of sustainability principles. They explore the value of the biosphere to all living things by examining the concept of biodiversity and the ecosystem services important for human health and well-being., and analyse the processes that threaten biodiversity and evaluate biodiversity management strategies for a selected threatened endemic animal or plant species.

On completion of this unit the student should be able to:

• Explain the importance of Earth’s biodiversity and how it has changed over time, analyse the threats to biodiversity, and evaluate management strategies to maintain biodiversity in the context of one selected threatened endemic species
• Explain how sustainability principles relate to environmental management and how stakeholder perspectives can influence environmental decision-making

Unit 4: How can climate change and the impacts of human energy use be managed?

In this unit students explore different factors that contribute to the variability of Earth’s climate and that can affect living things, human society and the environment. They compare renewable and non-renewable energy resources in order to evaluate the suitability and consequences of their use in terms of upholding sustainability principles. Various factors that are involved in responsible environmental decision-making are analysed and how science can inform the management of climate change and the impacts of energy production and use is discussed.

On completion of this unit the student should be able to:

• Analyse the major factors that affect Earth’s climate, explain how past and future climate variability can be measured and modelled, and evaluate options for managing climate change
• Compare the advantages and disadvantages of using a range of energy sources, and evaluate the suitability and impacts of their use in terms of upholding sustainability principles
• Design and conduct a scientific investigation related to biodiversity, environmental management, climate change and/or energy use