Welcome to a new introductory environmental science book that offers students a reliable science foundation and inspires them to connect the course to the choices they can make as citizens.

It’s about science–informed by decades of careful research by generations of scientists and presented in a manner non-science majors understand. 

It’s about solutions—offering a fresh alternative to “doom and gloom” by emphasizing problem solving and scalable solutions so students can make more informed choices on actions to support the well-being of humans and the planet.

It’s about today’s students—making navigating information, focusing, and learning easier for a wide range of students.

It’s written by a world-class scientist and dedicated teacher—author Norm Christensen was elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is founding dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment, and has served as president of the Ecological Society of America. He is also a gifted teacher who has taught the introductory environmental science course for over 15 years and won a Distinguished Teaching Award.