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Environmental studies

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{ "text": "Environmental studies is a multidisciplinary academic field. It focuses on the systematic study of human interaction with the environment. This field is important because it addresses complex contemporary environmental issues. It connects many different areas of knowledge to solve problems. These areas include the physical sciences and the humanities. It also includes commerce, economics, and the social sciences.

The Porter School of Environmental Studies Building
The Porter School of Environmental Studies Building

\n\nTo understand these issues, the field looks at several distinct areas. It studies the natural environment and the built environment. It also examines the relationship between these two worlds. The study encompasses basic principles of ecology and environmental science. It also includes subjects like geography, anthropology, and sociology. Students might also study public policy, law, or urban planning. Other subjects involved are ethics, philosophy, and natural resource management. This broad approach helps people understand the impact of individuals and society on the planet.\n\nEnvironmental studies functions through a specific set of methodological tools. Students use these tools to understand how we interact with the natural world. They look for ways to prevent the destruction of our surroundings. This process involves using science to find facts about the Earth. Then, students use social sciences to understand human behavior. They use these combined insights to offer potential solutions to environmental problems. This helps them address the crucial issues of our time. The goal is to move from being passive observers to active mediators.\n\nEducation plays a massive role in this field. Environmental education aims to instill pro-environmental thinking and attitudes in society. This helps create environmental ethics and raises awareness about biodiversity. In schools, this approach is often linked to 'Progressive education.' This philosophy focuses on helping children understand the processes influencing their surroundings. This study can also serve as long-term preparation for higher studies. Students might later specialize in sociology, archaeology, or historical geography. \n\nHistory shows how this academic field has grown over time. The New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University established a degree program in the 1950s. They awarded their first degree in environmental studies in 1956. Middlebury College established its major in 1965. In Canada, the Environmental Studies Association of Canada (ESAC) was founded in 1993. ESAC was officially integrated in 1994. Their first convention took place at the Learned Societies Conference in Calgary that same year. The magazine *A\J: Alternatives Journal* was first published in 1971 by Robert A. Paehlke.\n\nProfessional organizations have helped organize the field further. In 2008, the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS) was founded. It was the first professional association for this interdisciplinary field in the United States. In 2010, the National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) agreed to support the AESS. The AESS also publishes the *Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences* (JESS). This journal began publication in March 2011. It provides a base for researchers to publish new information.\n\nIn the United States, environmental studies is a very popular subject. Over 500 colleges and universities offer degrees in this field. Many high school students can even take environmental science as a college-level course. The University of California, Berkeley, awards the most degrees in this field in the U.S. In 2019, they awarded 409 degrees. Another notable school is Antioch University-New England. In 2019, nearly 35% of the degrees awarded there were in environmental studies. This shows how much students value this field of study.", "media": ["File:The Porter School of Environmental Studies Building.JPG"] }

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