Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Engineering, Volume I and II

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ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

The broad field of environmental science and engineering

is truly interdisciplinary in nature and any discussion of

environmental education must address the many facets and

levels of this topic. Is the effort to increase understanding

and respect for one’s surroundings? This might well begin

in the primary school and extend to the post secondary level.

Is the intent to produce a practicing professional in one or

more of the fields which comprise environmental science

and engineering? This involves undergraduate and, possibly,

graduate work. The discussion presented here will deal with

practicioners. Practicioners will mean scientists, engineers,

managers, planners, policy makers, environmental lawyers,

etc. ‘Etc.’ is used because almost every human action will

affect the environment and it is not possible to restrict the

disciplines. The fundamental breakdown of environmental

effort might be public health, conservation and resource

management but even this classification is too simplistic.

The education must be quite broad. It has been said that

a technician knows everything about the job except its place

in the universe. One cannot be certain that the first position

after graduation will last until retirement. A broad back-

ground gives greater flexibility. Although a topic may be

‘hot’ (newsworthy) at the moment, one may be certain that

equally serious and sensational problems will arise during

the working life of the student. While concentration can be

in one or more of many areas, an environmental scientist

or engineer must have more than superficial knowledge

of physics, chemistry, biology and microbiology. (Odum

defines ecology as ‘environmental biology’). Meteorology,

oceanography, geology, geography and hydraulics will be

important as will be fundamentals of non-ideological eco-

nomics. Mathematics should be carried to a fairly high

level, particularly statistics. Knowledge of local, national

and international statutes and regulations will be applied

constantly. An awareness of politics will be very important.

Public health practice and the fundamentals of conserva-

tion should be studied. Computer literacy will be necessary.

It is very important that written and oral communications

skills be developed. The world is becoming ever smaller

and competence in one or more foreign languages will be

valuable. In addition to the scientific and cultural subjects

just mentioned, an engineering student will study the spe-

cialized parts of that particular field of applied science. One

is, in essence, becoming a well-rounded person in a broad

discipline. It will be concluded that there is simply too much

material to compress into a four-year course of study. This is

correct and graduate study will be necessary in the majority

of cases.

The preceding brief discussion is meant as an introduc-

tion to the reader of the many disciplines which might well

be involved in education leading to careers in environmental

science or environmental engineering. One final observation

should be offered. When entering upon one’s post secondary

education there will be pressure pushing the student toward

currently fashionable fields. Such a course should be resisted.

One can expect to work on the order of forty years after the

terminal degree and it is wise to follow a field in which one

has developed an interest and can expect to be satisfied.

REFERENCES

Nicholas Murray Butler, Introduction to “ Engineers and Engineering in the

Renaissance ”. W. B. Parsons. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, 1939.

Eugene B. Golub, Environmental Education. Encylopedia of Environmental

Science and Engineering. Second Edition. Gordon and Breach Science

Publishers, New York, 1983.

Eugene B. Golub, Environmental Education. Encyclopedia of Environmen-

tal Science and Engineering. Third Edition. Gordon and Breach Science

Publishers, New York, 1992.

P. H. Jones, Environmental Education. Encyclopedia of Environmental

Science and Engineering. First Edition. Gordon and Breach Science

Publishers, New York, 1976.

J. R. Pfafflin, P. Baham and F. S. Gill, Dictionary of Environmental Science

and Engineering. Gordon and Breach Publishers, Reading, 1996.

Andrew Porteous, Dictionary of Environmental Science and Technology.

Revised Edition. John Wiley and Sons Ltd., Chichester, 1992.

Abel Wolman, Water, Health, and Society. Selected Papers by Abel Wolman.

Gilbert F. White, Editor. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 1969.

EUGENE B. GOLUB

New Jersey Institute of Technology

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