The tendencies in the development of the scientific-methodological and educational-methodical sphere related to the problems of deepening ecological knowledge, the ecologization of the spheres of productive and non-productive activities and education in particular, are analyzed. The world tendencies and main features of the current situation in environmental education in Ukraine are outlined. The necessity of entering the world standards of studying and assessing the state of the natural environment and the human environment is emphasized. The scheme of methodological structuring and improvement of the new in Ukraine, but well-established in European countries, the field of research and practical knowledge - environmental science – is presented.
The environmental science is concerned with the study of all levels of the natural environment, from the cosmic to the intracellular, as well as all levels of the anthropic environment, from the technogenic to the productive, from the socio-cultural to the spiritual-aesthetic. A unique phenomenon of nature is the recognition of multi-level biotic – intra-ecosystem and intra-organismal environments.
The subject matter of environmental science is constituted by the scientific foundations of the balanced coexistence of the medium-forming animate and inanimate natural systems and the human community, the methods of rational use of real-energy natural resources for the benefit of mankind without the destruction of the environment.
The environmental science aims at the development and promotion of reasonable principles of coexistence of natural and social medium-forming systems in the environment in order to preserve the possibility of satisfying present and future generations of their material and non-material needs.
As a system of knowledge, the science of the environment is filled with new information about the evolutionary unity of the material inanimate and living world, the role of science and spirituality in its understanding and preservation. Based on modern scientific and philosophical principles, the perception and importance of the biotic systems, biodiversity and eco-means of all levels is grounded.
The environmental science studies the history of the emergence of the human population, its transformation into planetary geological force. Various spheres of human activity are considered, such as urbanization, social hygiene and health, agricultural production, food supply and threats typical of these activities. An inseparable part of education in environmental science is the knowledge of physical real-energy resources and the values of stability of inanimate medium-forming systems. Here, it is necessary to obtain geological knowledge, to study atmospheric phenomena, climate, water resources, natural disasters, as well as ways to control and protect them from pollution, destabilization or depletion.
The current section of environmental science deals with the problems of civilization development and the latest achievements in such areas as renewable and safe energy, minimization and neutralization of solid and toxic waste, sustainable urbanization, non-destructive for environment and resources economics, balanced policies and legislation. Nonetheless important is active and optimistic promotion of the necessity to introduce principles of sustainable (eco-safety) development in all spheres of human activity, the formation of the mindset on the inevitability of transition to an economical way of life of an individual and civilization, the need to take an active civil position in society to preserve the environment.
The list of priority disciplines for obtaining an education in the specialty of Environmental Protection Technologies is given. It is emphasized that the differentiation of the spheres of research and the study of general ecology and environmental science will allow us to streamline and improve the quality and pace of the ecologization of public consciousness. The implementation of above mentioned ideas will improve the results of environmental and nature protection activities, and will also contribute to the ongoing ecological research.
ЕКОЛОГІЯ ТА СЕРЕДОВИЩЕЗНАВСТВО ЯК НАУКИ І СПЕЦІАЛЬНОСТІ
