AS/A2 Environmental Science

AS/A2 Environmental Science

Why study Environmental Studies?
Environmental Studies is the application of science to investigate our world. If you are interested in Life, you are interested in Environmental Studies. No one lives in isolation, we all exchange things with our environments. Everybody swaps food, air and water; and we all pass on our parasites! As you are reading this, it is a good bet that you are breathing in oxygen atoms that Julius Caesar breathed out in his dying gasp: Et tu, Brute?

If you choose to take Environmental Studies at A Level you will be investigating a wide range of issues of environmental importance:

• Does it matter if the Giant Panda becomes extinct?


• Is Global Warming worth bothering about, or is it a chance to get a decent tan?


• Is the hole in the Ozone Layer caused by smelly armpits?


• Which one: Nuclear Power or Wind farms?


• Are Biofuels the answer or just another problem?


• Why should you not leave your TV on standby?


• How big are your footprints?

You will gain a knowledge and understanding of the science of these kinds of problems. Your opinions matter, back them up with facts. We need to manage our world more sensibly and to do this we need Environmental Studies. What will our children say about us?

What are the entry requirements? What will I study?
AS
The AS course is two modules which are tested by two written exams. There is NO COURSEWORK.

Module One (40% AS; 20 % A Level)
The Living Environment This module is an introduction to the wildlife of Planet Earth and the need for its conservation. Why is there life on Earth? What is biodiversity and why is it so crucial? We will study how living things may be protected.

Module Two (60% AS; 30 % A Level)
The Physical Environment We live on land and we need water and air. How do we use and abuse these things? Rocks, soils and minerals are vital resources that must be managed very carefully.

A2
The A2 course is also two modules tested by two written exams. Again there is NO COURSEWORK.

Module Three (25% A Level)
Energy Resources and Environmental Pollution Electricity is becoming more expensive, fossil fuels are running out and people seem to hate wind power. We investigate the real issues and possible solutions of energy supply. Pollution affects us all, even penguins living in the remotest places are contaminated by human-made pollution. We will look at the properties of pollutants and potential methods of reducing the damage they cause.

Module Four (25% A Level)
Biological Resources and Sustainability Human populations are increasing. This is bringing problems and opportunities. Agriculture and fishing provide us with food and forestry provides us with key materials. How do we and how should we manage our biological resources, if we want to keep on living well?

HOW SCIENCE WORKS
Environmental Studies is a SCIENCE subject. The study of how science works is integral to the subject. You will be learning what science is and how it is used. Scientific investigations are an important part of Environmental Studies. Environmental Studies is hands-on. In your lessons you will do a variety of activities, practical investigations and fieldwork.

Does Environmental Studies link with other subjects?
Yes. Environmental Studies will complement any other A Level or Applied A Level course and will provide a good scientific training. It will go very well with the other science subjects and combines particularly well with Geography. Environmental Studies is also appropriate for those students who are interested in science but are not intending to take another science AS Level.

Where might Environmental Studies lead me?
Anywhere you want. Students with science A Levels are welcomed to most careers and higher education courses. A Level Environmental Studies will provide a very strong foundation for any environmentally related career, e.g. pollution control, agriculture, forestry, resource and waste management, conservation, town and country planning.

Environmental awareness and understanding is increasingly important in business and industry as more and more environmental regulations are being introduced. So come on: help sort out the problems of the world.

I am I plus my surroundings and if I do not preserve the latter, I do not preserve myself. J. Ortega y Gasset