The term "human ecology" first appeared in Ellen Swallow Richards' 1907 Sanitation in Daily Life, where it was defined as "the study of the surroundings of human beings in the effects they produce on the lives of men." The term was later used in the field of sociology in the 1921 book "Introduction to the Science of Sociology."
Individuals working within this discipline explore the human experience and it's interrelationship with community, school, families, relationships, and institutions in an effort to understand human behavior, community processes, and inform.
Example:
- Research in this field is used to address environmental problems and issues of equity, health, and sustainability.
- Research is also used to understand factors contributing to the promotion of general health and well-being, disease prevention, and the elimination of health disparities.