Scientific American Environmental Science for a Changing World

Following real people and real science, Environmental Science for a Changing World uses an engaging, journalistic approach to show students how science works and how to think critically about environmental issues. Each module uses a single, integrated story to provide context for the science with beautifully designed infographics to clarify essential processes and concepts. This approach has proven so effective that instructors using the book report a dramatic increase in the number of students who read the assignments and come to class ready to participate.

The third edition features new stories, updated scientific coverage, and a new modular organization that makes using the book easier than ever.  Each chapter is home to two or more modules that focus on different aspects of a topic, giving instructors flexibility to tailor reading and online assignments to their course.  Every module tells a compelling, integrated story, and is built on a pedagogical framework of Guiding Questions to help students identify the scientific concepts that form the basis for the story.

This edition also has a dedicated version of Macmillan’s online course space, SaplingPlus, home to the interactive eBook, all resources, and pre-built units for each module with ready-to-use assignments and activities for both traditional lecture and active classrooms.

Chapter 1. Introduction to Environmental, Science, and Information Literacy

Module 1.1 Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Lessons from a Vanished Society

Module 1.2 Science Literacy and the Process of Science Fungal Attacker Threatens North American Bats

Module 1.3 Information Literacy and Toxicology Lead in the Water

Chapter 2. Ecology

Module 2.1 Ecosystems and Nutrient Cycling Engineering Earth

Module 2.2 Population Ecology Gray Wolves Return to Yellowstone

Module 2.3 Community Ecology The Florida Everglades: A Community in Crisis

Chapter 3. Evolution and Biodiversity

Module 3.1 Evolution and Extinction A Tropical Murder Mystery

Module 3.2 Biodiversity Palm Oil Plantations Threaten Tropical Forests

Module 3.3 Preserving Biodiversity A Forest Without Elephants*

Chapter 4. Human Populations and Environmental Health

Module 4.1 Human Populations The Kerala Model

Module 4.2 Urbanization and Sustainable Communities Creating Green Cities

Module 4.3 Environmental Health Eradicating a Parasitic Nightmare

Chapter 5. Managing Resources: Environmental Economics and Policy

Module 5.1 Ecological Economics and Consumption Wall to Wall, Cradle to Cradle

Module 5.2 Environmental Policy The World Tackles Ozone Depletion

Module 5.3 Managing Solid Waste A Plastic Surf

Chapter 6. Water Resources

Module 6.1 Freshwater Resources Toilet to Tap

Module 6.2 Water Pollution Suffocating the Gulf

Module 6.3 Marine Ecosystems Ocean Acidification: The "Other" CO₂ Problem*

Chapter 7. Land Resources

Module 7.1 Forests Returning Trees to Haiti

Module 7.2 Soil Resources and Grasslands Restoring the Range*

Module 7.3 Mineral Resources No Stone Unturned*

Chapter 8. Food Resources

Module 8.1 Feeding the World A Gene Revolution

Module 8.2 Sustainable Agriculture: Raising Crops Farming Like an Ecosystem

Module 8.3 Agriculture: Raising Livestock Can Meat Be Part of a Healthy, Environmentally Conscious Diet?*

Online Module 8.4 Fisheries and Aquaculture Fish in a Warehouse?*

Chapter 9. Conventional Energy: Fossil Fuels

Module 9.1 Coal Bringing Down the Mountain

Module 9.2 Oil and Natural Gas The Bakken Oil Boom

Chapter 10. Air Pollution: Consequences of Using Fossil Fuels

Module 10.1 Air Pollution The Youngest Scientists

Online Module 10.2 Global Climate Change Climate Refugees

Chapter 11. Alternatives to Fossil Fuels

Module 11.1 Nuclear Power The Future of Fukushima

Module 11.2 Sun, Wind, Water, and Earth Energy Fueled by the Sun

Module 11.3 Biofuels Gas from Grass*

*Available online in SaplingPlus