Final answer:
Environmental studies is considered a 'subversive science' because it challenges dominant ideologies and power structures that contribute to environmental degradation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subfield of environmental sociology studies the way humans interact with their environments. It is closely related to human ecology, which focuses on the relationship between people and their built and natural environment. This field is sometimes referred to as a 'subversive science' because it challenges the dominant ideologies and power structures that contribute to environmental degradation. Environmental studies critique the belief that humans are superior to all other creatures and highlight the negative consequences of industrial development and economic growth. It also examines how science itself has institutionalized ecological destruction and works alongside government agencies and economic corporations to exploit the biosphere.