Environmental Systems & Societies
Introduction to Diploma options
Environmental systems and Societies. IB standard level only
Course content • Ecosystems and Ecology • Biodiversity and Conservation • Water, Soil and Food resources • Atmospheric systems • Climate change and energy • Human populations and resources
Big picture Holistic thinking Evaluating and justifying multiple perspectives Problem-solving Interpreting unfamiliar case studies
6 Big Questions For example: In which ways might the solutions explored alter your predictions for the state of human societies and the biosphere decades from now?
Concepts • Sustainability • Equilibrium • Biodiversity • Environmental value systems
“WE DO NOT INHERIT THE EARTH FROM OUR ANCESTORS, WE BORROW IT FROM OUR CHILDREN. ”
Think using a systems approach
CC Charls Tsevls
Consider issues from multiple perspectives.
Transdisciplinary – mostly biology and geography but some economics, politics, other sciences and even philosophy.
You will enjoy ESS if you are strong in these skills:
• Critical thinking • Analysing data • Transferring information from your reading of current events in the news and other subjects • Evaluating multiple perspectives • Communicate conclusions and enjoy debates
Cross-border pollution: who’s problem is it?
Winds are from the SW
Assessment • Internal assessment: • 25% of final grade • Individual investigation submitted as a report. 1,500 – 2,250 words • 10 hours of individual experiments • 30 hours of other experiments, investigations, field trips
• Exams: • 75% of final grade • Paper 1 = Unfamiliar Case study data analysis (1 hour) • Paper 2 = short answers and data analysis questions, 2 essay questions (2 hours)
Compulsory 4 day Fieldtrip to the Chiang Mai area
Mangrove planting
Khao Yai National Park
Supports careers in: • resource management, • business, But you need • law, Chemistry for Env. Science at • journalism, University • sustainable management, • environment design • engineering,
What have you produced today?
Student comments
“ESS is a great way to take science and make it more relevant. You’ll do a bit of biology and a little chemistry (like, a very little), but it’s nothing scary. That’s what’s awesome: ESS is the science course to take whether you love science or are scared by it. Personally, I scored well in MYP Science, but you can do well in ESS no matter how your MYP went, given some effort. Plus, you learn about some interesting issues in Year 13. TAKE ESS!” Greg
The effect of Acid rain on seed germination
“Choose what you think will be best for you, not what your friend is choosing, not what your parents want you to choose and not because other people say that ESS is not a real science, because ESS is and it is also challenging in other aspects.� Amanda
Analysing the abiotic preferences of mealworms
“ESS is a subject that combines the experimental sciences with the social sciences that allows students to appreciate the interconnectedness of the environment and human culture. My advice would be to treat ESS as you would any other subject: study hard, pay attention in class and meet the deadlines.� Hoyon
See Mr Dorn, Mr Scoones or Miss Perry for more information