Why study the environment?
The environment is all around us. From mountains to prairies, neighborhoods to nations, or streets to hemispheres, our environment is the context in which we live. Our society is concerned with many aspects of the environment:
These concerns for environmental quality relate specifically to resources such as water, air, soils, forests, wildlife habitats, energy sources, recreational areas, and urban and suburban land. Students typically focus on one of these resources, yet the connections between resources demand a broader-based study of the environment. To understand the complexity of the field and be qualified for a competitive job market, students need both depth and range of understanding. Augustana environmental programs help students gain both the depth and range of understanding that they need.
- Preservation of our healthy rural and urban environments
- The challenge to preserve our polluted, degraded environments
- Demands on the earthÝs limited resources and space