Perhaps there are as many answers to this question as there are ecologists. The word ‘ecology’ is derived from ‘oikos’, Greek for ‘house’, and hence ecology is the study of where we live.
Ecology moves beyond natural history, because it seeks the principles that govern natural history. Ecology can be considered the most relevant science— because everything we eat, breathe, or do is a product of nature.
Nearly every international news item, political conflict, or societal movement has an ecological component. As the media and the general public become aware of this, and as natural resources become more and more limited, the need for an ecological education will continue to grow.
