Jay H. Withgott has authored Essential Environment and its parent volume, Environment: The Science behind the Stories, since their inception. In dedicating himself to these books, he works to keep abreast of a diverse and rapidly changing field and continually seeks to develop new and better ways to help today’s students learn environmental science.

As a researcher, Jay has published papers in ecology, evolution, animal behavior, and conservation biology in journals ranging from Evolution to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. As an instructor, he has taught university lab courses in ecology and other disciplines. As a science writer, Jay has authored articles for journals and magazines including Science, New Scientist, BioScience, Smithsonian, and Natural History. By combining his scientific training with prior experience as a newspaper reporter and editor, he strives to make science accessible and engaging for general audiences. Jay holds degrees from Yale University, the University of Arkansas, and the University of Arizona.

Jay lives with his wife, biologist Susan Masta, in Portland, Oregon.

Matthew M. Laposata

Matthew M. Laposata is a professor of environmental science at Kennesaw State University (KSU). He holds a bachelor's degree in biology education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a masters in biology from Bowling Green State University, and a doctorate in ecology from The Pennsylvania State University.

Matt is the coordinator of KSU's two-semester, general education science sequence Science, Society, and the Environment which enrolls roughly 7,000 students a year. He focuses exclusively on introductory environmental science courses, and has enjoyed teaching and interacting with thousands of non-science majors during his career. He is an active scholar in environmental science education and has received grants from state, federal, and private sources to develop and evaluate innovative curricular materials. His scholarly work has received numerous awards, including the Georgia Board of Regents' highest award for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

He resides in suburban Atlanta with his wife Lisa, and children Lauren, Cameron, and Saffron.

Part ONE   Foundations of Environmental Science    1

1           Science and Sustainability: An Introduction to Environmental Science  

2           Earth’s Physical Systems: Matter, Energy, and Geology   

3           Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology   

4           Species Interactions and Community Ecology   

5           Environmental Systems and Ecosystem Ecology   

6           Ethics, Economics, and Sustainable Development   

7           Environmental Policy: Making Decisions and Solving Problems   

PART TWO   Environmental Issues and the Search for Solutions  

8           Human Population   

9           Soil and Agriculture   

10         Agriculture, Biotechnology, and the Future of Food   

11         Biodiversity and Conservation Biology   

12         Forests, Forest Management, and Protected Areas   

13         The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities   

14         Environmental Health and Toxicology   

15         Freshwater Systems and Resources   

16         Marine and Coastal Systems and Resources   

17         Atmospheric Science, Air Quality, and Pollution Control   

18         Global Climate Change   

19         Fossil Fuels, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation   

20         Conventional Energy Alternatives   

21         New Renewable Energy Alternatives   

22         Managing Our Waste   

23         Minerals and Mining   

24         Sustainable Solutions   

Appendix A: Answers to Data Analysis Questions   

Appendix B: How to Interpret Graphs   

Appendix C: Metric System  

Appendix D: Periodic Table of the Elements  

Appendix E: Geologic Time Scale   

Glossary   

Credits   

Selected Sources and References for Further Reading   

Index   

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