The world is changing rapidly – economically, geopolitically, technologically, militarily and environmentally. But when it comes to the environment, many people feel the world is on the cusp of catastrophe. That’s especially true for anyone directly affected by endemic environmental disasters, such as drought or flooding, where mass outmigration is the only option possible.
The challenges are considerable and the crisis is urgent. But we know that physics has already contributed enormously to society – and I believe that environmental physics can make a huge difference by identifying, addressing and alleviating the problems at stake. However, physicists will only be able to make a difference if we put environmental physics at the centre of our university teaching.
Grounded in physics
Environmental physics is defined as the response of living organisms to their environment within the framework of the physics principles and processes. It examines the interactions within and between the biosphere, the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, the lithosphere, the geosphere and the atmosphere. Stretching from geophysics, meteorology and climate change to renewable energy and remote sensing, it also covers soils and vegetation, the urban and built environment, and the survival of humans and animals in extreme environments.
Environmental physics was pioneered in the UK in the 1950s by the physicists Howard Penman and John Monteith, who were based at the Rothamsted Experimental Station, which is one of the oldest agricultural research institutions in the world. In recent decades, environmental physics has become more prevalent in universities across the world.
Some UK universities either teach environmental physics in their undergraduate physics degrees or have elements of it within environmental science degrees. That’s the approach taken, for example, by University College London as well as well as the universities of Cambridge, Leicester, Manchester, Oxford, Reading, Strathclyde and Warwick.
When it comes to master’s degrees in environmental physics, there are 17 related courses in the UK, including nuclear and environmental physics at Glasgow and radiation and environmental protection at Surrey. Even the London School of Economics has elements of environmental physics in some of its business, geography and economics degrees via a “physics of climate” course.
But we need to do more. The interdisciplinary nature of environmental physics means it overlaps with not just physics and maths but agriculture, biology, chemistry, computing, engineering, geology and health science too.
Indeed, recent developments in machine learning, digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) have had an impact on environmental physics – for example, through the use of drones in environmental monitoring and simulations – while AI algorithms can catalyse modelling and weather forecasting. AI could also in future be used to predict natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, and to assess the health implications of environmental pollution.
Environmental physics is exciting and challenging, has solid foundations in mathematics and the sciences via experiments both in the lab and field. Environmental measurements are a great way to learn about the use of uncertainties, monitoring and modelling, while providing scope for project and teamwork. A grounding in environmental physics can also open the door to lots of exciting career opportunities, with ongoing environmental change meaning lots of ongoing environmental research will be vital.
Solving major regional and global environmental problems is a key part of sociopolitics and so environmental physics has a special role to play in the public arena. It gives students the chance to develop presentational and interpersonal skills that can be used to influence decision makers at local and national government level.
Taken together, I believe a module on environmental physics should be a component of every undergraduate degree as a minimum, ideally having the same weight as quantum or statistical physics or optics. Students of environmental physics have the potential to be enabled, engaged and, ultimately, to be empowered to meet the demands that the future holds.
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