Sustaining the Earth, 11th Edition

G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman

Copyright 2015
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Sustaining the Earth 11th Edition by G. Tyler Miller/Scott Spoolman

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Overview
Meet the Authors
What's New
Features
Table of Contents
Pricing

Overview

SUSTAINING THE EARTH provides the basic scientific tools for understanding and thinking critically about the environmental problems we face. About half the price of other environmental science texts, this 14-chapter, one-color core book offers an integrated approach that emphasizes how environmental and resource problems and solutions are related. The new edition of SUSTAINING THE EARTH is fully updated with the latest statistics and reports of important scientific studies. New Connections boxes show surprising but important connections between environmental problems and aspects of daily life. In addition, new Thinking About boxes help students apply the concepts of the book to their own lives.

Sustainability is the integrating theme of this current and thought-provoking book. The concept-centered approach transforms complex environmental topics and issues into key concepts that students will understand and remember. By framing the concepts with goals for more sustainable lifestyles and human communities, students see how promising the future can be.

Meet the Authors

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G. Tyler Miller

G. Tyler Miller has written 65 editions of textbooks for introductory courses in environmental science, basic ecology, energy and environmental chemistry. Since 1975, his books have been among the most widely used textbooks for environmental science in the United States and throughout the world. Translated into eight languages, they have been used by more than 3 million students. Dr. Miller has a professional background in chemistry, physics and ecology. He taught college for 20 years, developed one of the nation's first environmental studies programs and created an innovative interdisciplinary undergraduate science program before deciding to write environmental science textbooks full time in 1975. Now retired, Dr. Miller created Earth Education and Research, an enterprise that was devoted to improving environmental education. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and has received honorary doctoral degrees in recognition of his significant contributions to environmental education.

Scott Spoolman

Scott Spoolman is an experienced writer in the field of educational publishing, with more than 30 years of expertise. Between 2003 and 2018, he worked with Tyler Miller as a co-author on editions of LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE and SUSTAINING THE EARTH. With Norman Myers, he co-authored ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS: A MODULAR APPROACH. Spoolman has authored numerous books and articles in the fields of environmental science, geology and natural history, politics and business. Additionally, he has served as a consulting editor, contributing to the development of over 70 college and high school textbooks in the natural and social sciences. He earned a master's degree in science journalism from the University of Minnesota. In his free time, Spoolman enjoys exploring the forests and waters of his native Wisconsin along with his family -- his wife, environmental educator Gail Martinelli, son Will and daughter Katie.

What's New

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Updated with the latest statistics and reports of important scientific studies, Expanded coverage on topics such as ocean acidification, oil production in the U.S., the warming of the world’s lakes, climate change tipping points, the Great Pacific garbage patch, how pollution prevention pays, the greening of college campuses, and much more.
NEW inclusion of three social science principles of sustainability show students how to apply important lessons from the social sciences to making our societies and economies more sustainable.
NEW brief Connections boxes show surprising but important connections between environmental problems and aspects of daily life.
NEW brief Thinking About boxes help students to make important connections on their own and to apply the concepts of the book to their own lives.
NEW Doing Environmental Science exercises at the end of chapters help students to experience the work of environmental scientists first-hand.

Features

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Case Studies in every chapter provide an in-depth look at specific environmental problems and their possible solutions.
CENTRAL THEME OF SUSTAINABILITY: Three clearly explained principles of sustainability (solar energy, chemical cycling, and biodiversity) are integrated throughout every chapter and take students through the practical steps they can take toward more sustainable lifestyles. Icons highlight sustainability throughout the text.
CONCEPT-CENTERED APPROACH: To help students focus on the main ideas, each major chapter section is built around one to two key concepts which state the most important take-away messages of each chapter.
PERSONAL RELEVANCE: “What Can You Do?” boxes describe how students can make a difference and “How Would You Vote?” questions give them an opportunity to think critically about issues. “Solutions” subsections present proven and possible solutions for students to explore and “Individuals Matter” boxes describe what various concerned citizens and scientists have done to help work toward sustainability.
OBJECTIVE COVERAGE: A strong emphasis on scientific objectivity and the need for non-biased solutions is a hallmark of the text. “Trade-Offs” boxes present advantages and disadvantages of various environmental technologies and solutions to environmental problems.
VALUE-PRICED: This title is part of the CENGAGE ADVANTAGE SERIES and was created specifically to deliver quality content from highly respected authors in a convenient format that will be sold to your students at a significantly lower price.

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Introduction: Learning Skills.
PART I: HUMANS AND SUSTAINABILITY: AN OVERVIEW.
1. Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability.
PART II: SCIENCE, ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES, AND SUSTAINABILITY.
2. Science, Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems.
3. Biodiversity and Evolution.
4. Community Ecology, Population Ecology, and the Human Population.
PART III: SUSTAINING BIODIVERSITY.
5. Sustaining Biodiversity: The Species Approach.
6. Sustaining Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach.
PART IV: SUSTAINING NATURAL RESOURCES.
7. Food Production and the Environment.
8. Water Resources and Water Pollution.
9. Nonrenewable Energy Resources.
10. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
PART V: SUSTAINING ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.
11. Environmental Hazards and Human Health.
12. Air Pollution, Climate Change, and Ozone Depletion.
13. Urbanization and Solid and Hazardous Waste.
PART VI: SUSTAINING HUMAN SOCIETIES.
14. Economics, Politics, Worldviews, and the Environment.
Appendix: Units of Measurement.