《环境的科学》是由美国明尼苏达大学植物学与遗传学名誉教授威廉·坎宁安 (William P. Cunningham) 与其合作者、地理信息系统与环境研究专家玛丽·安·坎宁安 (Mary Ann Cunningham) 联袂编著的权威性环境科学著作。这部集大成之作采用跨学科的研究范式, 系统整合了生态学、地球科学等多维知识体系, 构建了一个理解环境问题的综合性分析框架。作者团队充分发挥威廉教授36年来在细胞生物学、生物保护等领域的深厚学术积淀, 包括玛丽·安在空间地理信息系统 (GIS) 等方面的专业优势, 创新性地将微观机理研究与宏观空间分析结合。书中采用“球-区域”双重视角, 深入剖析了气候变化、生物多样性丧失等全球性环境危机的驱动机制, 通过典型案例研究揭示了不同地理尺度下环境问题的区域特异性。书中独创的“问题诊断-解决方案-实施评估”三维认知模型, 涵盖传统环境科学的理论基础, 引入了环境经济学评估工具和政策分析矩阵, 为读者提供了兼具学术严谨性与实践操作性的研究范式。该著作特别强调人类社会经济系统与自然生态系统的复杂耦合关系, 通过量化建模与质性分析的有机结合, 为可持续发展决策提供了可靠的科学依据。其内容架构既符合高等教育对学科交叉融合的需求, 又能满足政策制定者、环保从业者的实际工作需要, 现已成为全球超过400所高校指定的环境科学经典教材[1]。

The Science of the Environment is an authoritative environmental science work co authored by William P. Cunningham, Honorary Professor of Botany and Genetics at the University of Minnesota, and his collaborator, geographic information systems and environmental research expert Mary Ann Cunningham. This masterpiece adopts an interdisciplinary research paradigm, systematically integrating multidimensional knowledge systems such as ecology and earth sciences, and constructing a comprehensive analytical framework for understanding environmental issues. . The author team fully utilizes Professor William􀆳s profound academic accumulation in the fields of cell biology, biological conservation, and other areas over the past 36 years, including Mary Ann􀆳s professional advantages in spatial geographic information systems (GIS) , and innovatively combines micro mechanism research with macro spatial analysis. The book adopts a dual perspective of "sphere region" and deeply analyzes the driving mechanisms of global environmental crises such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Through typical case studies, it reveals the regional specificity of environmental problems at different geographical scales. The unique three-dimensional cognitive model of "problem diagnosis solution implementation evaluation" in the book covers the theoretical basis of traditional environmental science, introduces environmental economics evaluation tools and policy analysis matrices, and provides readers with a research paradigm that combines academic rigor and practical operability. This work particularly emphasizes the complex coupling relationship between human socio-economic systems and natural ecosystems, providing reliable scientific basis for sustainable development decisionmaking through the organic combination of quantitative modeling and qualitative analysis. Its content architecture not only meets the demand for interdisciplinary integration in higher education, but also meets the practical work needs of policy makers and environmental practitioners. It has become a designated classic textbook for environmental science in over 400 universities worldwide.