Jay Withgott has authored Environment: The Science Behind the Stories as well as its brief version, Essential Environment, 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 scientific 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, he has authored articles for numerous 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 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 master’s degree 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 titled Science, Society, and the Environment, which enrolls roughly 6000 students per year. He focuses exclusively on introductory environmental science courses and has enjoyed teaching and interacting with thousands of students during his nearly two decades in higher education. He is an active scholar in environmental science education and has received grants from state, federal, and private sources to develop 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. Matt resides in suburban Atlanta with his wife, Lisa, and children, Lauren, Cameron, and Saffron.

1. Science and Sustainability       

Our Island, Earth   

Environmental Science     

The Nature of Science       

Seeking a Sustainable Future       

2. Earth’s Physical Systems 

Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment  

Energy: An Introduction   

Geology: The Physical Basis for Environmental Science       

Geologic and Natural Hazards     

3. Evolution and Population Ecology   

Evolution: The Source of Earth’s Biodiversity    

Ecology and the Organism  

Population Ecology  

Conserving Biodiversity   

4. Species Interactions and Community Ecology  

Species Interactions 

Ecological Communities   

Earth’s Biomes      

5. Environmental Systems and Ecosystem Ecology       

Earth’s Environmental Systems   

Ecosystems

Biogeochemical Cycles     

6. Ethics, Economics, and Sustainable Development     

Environmental Ethics       

Economics and the Environment

Sustainable Development 

7. Environmental Policy   

Environmental Policy: An Overview       

U.S. Environmental Law and Policy

International Environmental Policy        

Approaches to Environmental Policy      

8. Human Population        

Our World at Nearly 8 Billion      

Demography 

Population and Society     

9. The Underpinnings of Agriculture      

Resources and Services for Agriculture  

Soil: A Foundation of Agriculture

Water for Agriculture       

Nutrients for Plants 

Pollination for Farming    

Preserving Genetic Diversity       

Conserving Soil and Land Resources      

10. Making Agriculture Sustainable        

The Race to Feed the World

Raising Animals for Food 

Controlling Pests and Weeds       

Genetically Modified Food  

Organic Agriculture 

Sustainable Food Production       

11. Biodiversity and Its Conservation     

Life’s Diversity on Earth   

Benefits of Biodiversity    

Biodiversity Loss and Extinction 

Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions

12.Forests, Forest Management, and Protected Areas 

Forest Ecosystems and Forest Resources  

Forest Loss

Forest Management 

Parks and Protected Areas  

13. The Urban Environment        

Our Urbanizing World      

Sprawl        

Creating Livable Cities      

Urban Sustainability

14. Environmental Health and Toxicology

Environmental Health      

Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Organisms  

Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems

Studying Effects of Hazards

Risk Assessment and Risk Management 

Philosophical and Policy Approaches     

15. Freshwater Systems and Resources 

Freshwater Systems

Human Activities Affect Waterways       

Solutions to Depletion of Fresh Water    

Freshwater Pollution and Its Control      

16. Marine and Coastal Systems and Resources

The Oceans

Marine and Coastal Ecosystems  

Marine Pollution   

Emptying the Oceans        

Marine Conservation

17. The Atmosphere, Air Quality, and Air Pollution Control     

The Atmosphere    

Outdoor Air Quality 

Ozone Depletion and Recovery    

Addressing Acid Deposition 

Indoor Air Quality 

18. Global Climate Change       

Our Dynamic Climate        

Studying Climate Change  

Impacts of Climate Change  

Responding to Climate Change    

19. Fossil Fuels and Energy Efficiency    

Sources of Energy 

Fossil Fuels: Their Formation, Extraction, and Use       

Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels

Addressing Impacts of Fossil Fuel Use    

Energy Efficiency and Conservation       

20. Conventional Energy Alternatives    

Alternatives to Fossil Fuels 

Nuclear Power       

Bioenergy   

Hydroelectric Power

21. New Renewable Energy Sources       

Shifting to Renewable Energy      

Solar Energy 

Wind Power  

Geothermal Energy  

Ocean Energy Sources      

Energy Storage      

22. Managing Our Waste  

Approaches to Waste Management

Municipal Solid Waste      

Industrial Solid Waste      

Hazardous Waste  

23. Minerals and Mining  

Earth’s Mineral Resources  

Mining Methods and Their Impacts

Toward Sustainable Mineral Use 

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