IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jenvss/v6y2016i2d10.1007_s13412-015-0339-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Environmental Science: the interdisciplinary STEM field

Author

Listed:
  • Gwendelyn Geidel

    (University of South Carolina)

  • William E. Winner

    (North Carolina State University)

Abstract

The recognition of Environmental Science (ES) academic programs as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is important to the role ES will play in scholarship and in socio-economic development. The National Science Foundation, other federal agencies, and many academic leaders recognize ES as a STEM discipline. However, some state agencies and academic colleagues do not. This article builds the case that ES is a STEM discipline, is a “rigorous science,” and provides in-depth treatments of science disciplines. In general, ES qualifies as STEM education for four reasons: ES is grounded in the scientific method and the process of discovery, ES is empirical and predictive, ES is rigorous in its provision of specific skills for analytical analysis, and ES provides students with critical thinking skills. We develop viewpoints that the interdisciplinary field of ES is a mature science that appeals to students and prepares them for meaningful careers. Recognition and classification of ES as a STEM discipline provides a crucial link for their funding, provides career opportunities and research initiatives for students and faculty members, and gives those from ES academic programs standing in the science-based discussions for advancing sustainability in a rapidly changing world.

Suggested Citation

  • Gwendelyn Geidel & William E. Winner, 2016. "Environmental Science: the interdisciplinary STEM field," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 6(2), pages 336-343, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jenvss:v:6:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s13412-015-0339-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s13412-015-0339-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13412-015-0339-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s13412-015-0339-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jenvss:v:6:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s13412-015-0339-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.