Scientific communication follows established conventions that ensure clarity, precision and universal understanding across different research communities and countries. VCE Environmental Science students must apply these conventions in their investigation reports and poster presentations.
Scientific terminology exists to communicate precisely. Each term has a specific meaning that distinguishes it from related concepts:
| Lay term | Scientific term | Distinction |
|---|---|---|
| ‘Greenhouse warming’ | Enhanced greenhouse effect | Specifies the human-caused version |
| ‘Greenhouse gas’ | Any specific GHG: CO$_2$, CH$_4$, N$_2$O | Precision |
| ‘Lots of species’ | High species richness or SID value | Quantifiable |
| ‘The environment got better’ | Species diversity increased; ecological integrity restored | Measurable, specific |
| ‘Carbon’ | CO$_2$ (when discussing atmospheric emissions) | Specify the molecule |
Organisms are identified using the Linnaean binomial system:
- Genus + species name
- Always italicised when typed: Eucalyptus obliqua
- Underlined when handwritten: Eucalyptus obliqua
- Genus capitalised; species lowercase
- After first use, genus can be abbreviated: E. obliqua
Example: Leadbeater’s possum = Gymnobelideus leadbeateri
| Substance | Formula |
|---|---|
| Carbon dioxide | CO$_2$ |
| Methane | CH$_4$ |
| Nitrous oxide | N$_2$O |
| Water | H$_2$O |
| Sulfur dioxide | SO$_2$ |
| Nitrate | NO$_3^-$ |
| Carbonate | CO$_3^{2-}$ |
| Symbol | Meaning | Environmental Science Application |
|---|---|---|
| $\sum$ | Sum of all values | SID formula: $\sum n_i(n_i-1)$ |
| $\alpha$ | Significance level or alpha diversity | Statistical testing |
| $\pm$ | Plus or minus (uncertainty) | Measurement precision |
| $\approx$ | Approximately equal to | Model estimates |
| $>$, $<$ | Greater than, less than | Comparisons |
| $\propto$ | Proportional to | Relationships |
| $\Delta$ | Change in a quantity | $\Delta T$ = temperature change |
| Formula | Application |
|---|---|
| $SID = 1 - \frac{\sum n_i(n_i-1)}{N(N-1)}$ | Simpson’s Index of Diversity |
| $N = \frac{M \times C}{R}$ | Mark-recapture population estimate |
| $\eta = \frac{E_{out}}{E_{in}} \times 100\%$ | Energy efficiency |
| $\eta_{Carnot} = 1 - \frac{T_{cold}}{T_{hot}}$ | Maximum thermodynamic efficiency |
| $CO_2e = \text{mass} \times GWP$ | Carbon dioxide equivalent conversion |
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| VCAA | Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority |
| SID | Simpson’s Index of Diversity |
| GHG | Greenhouse gas |
| GWP | Global warming potential |
| CO$_2$e | Carbon dioxide equivalent |
| IPCC | Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |
| EPBC | Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation |
| FFG | Flora and Fauna Guarantee |
| CITES | Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species |
| IUCN | International Union for Conservation of Nature |
| IV | Independent variable |
| DV | Dependent variable |
| CV | Controlled variable |
| SD | Standard deviation |
| Quantity | SI Unit | Symbol | Common Environmental Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature | Degrees Celsius | °C | Air and water temperature |
| Length | Metre | m | Distance, height, depth |
| Area | Square metre | m$^2$ | Quadrat size; habitat area |
| Mass | Kilogram | kg | Biomass; pollutant mass |
| Volume | Litre | L | Water volume |
| Concentration | Parts per million | ppm | Atmospheric CO$_2$ |
| Concentration | Milligrams per litre | mg/L | Water quality |
| Energy | Joule | J | Energy conversions |
| Power | Watt | W | Energy generation |
| Time | Seconds, minutes, hours | s, min, h | |
| Frequency | Hertz | Hz |
Reporting rules:
- Always include units when reporting numerical data
- Use a space between the number and unit: ‘23 °C’ not ‘23°C’
- Use consistent significant figures throughout a dataset
VCAA FOCUS: Investigation report marking criteria explicitly assess correct use of scientific conventions. Check: all units present; all organism names correctly italicised; all formulas correctly formatted; all data correctly rounded to appropriate significant figures.
