Problem Solving Reflection

 

 

Prompt 1:  In your own words, how do you identify environmental or natural resource challenges? Provide an example illustrating this.

              Environmental or natural resource challenges are when the needs of industry clash with the protection of the environment.  People require industry for manufacturing products that are used every day, including cars and other necessities.  The demand for more products increases industry, which leads to a high emission of pollution into the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels.  This is an example of an environmental issue, because people around the world demand the production of certain products, however as the demand increases, the environment suffers because of the pollution created. 

 

Prompt 2:  What are the steps in problem solving for environmental/natural resource challenges?

              The steps to solve environmental issues starts with identifying the root cause of the problem.  For example, ocean acidification is a serious environmental issue caused by the increased amount of carbon dioxide absorbed into the ocean.  However, the root cause of this problem is not the absorption by the ocean, but the presence of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is there because of the burning of fossil fuels.  The next step is to inform the public of the issue, because every action causes a chain of reactions, and by stopping the first initial action, a whole chain of reactions will be stopped as a result.  For example, if people recycle their water bottles, then less water bottles will have to be manufactured, which leads to the burning of less fossil fuels and less emission of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.   The final step is to generate solutions, and compare each one to determine the risks and benefits until a final solution that fits the most needs is found. 

 

Prompt 3:  In the arena of natural resources in environment, how do you know if you have in fact solved a problem?

              A problem has been solved when a consistent change that leads to a noticeable difference has been made.  If an environmental issue improves for only a temporary amount of time, then the issue is not solved because it will reoccur.  When an issue improves, and continues to improve, then it is solved, because the continuation of improvement proves that the problem will not reoccur.