Environmental Studies

Course Objectives:

1. The course is designed to impart basic knowledge of the environment and its components.
2. The course deals in creating awareness about the energy resources and current environmental problems faced by the world.
3. To understand and learn about environment pollution, related case studies and measures taken for control to pollution.
4. To understand and explore different approaches of conserving and protecting environment for the benefit of society.

Course Outcomes (CO):

• CO1 Environmental Studies course will provide necessary information and knowledge about the various aspects of environment, ecosystems and related biodiversity.
• CO2 Students will be able to learn and understand about the availability and sustainable use of resources, environmental problems and their short term and long term impacts to humans.
• CO3 Course will help them to learn about environmental policies and protocols, social issues and role of human in conservation and protection of environment.
• CO4 Overall, course will help students to develop skills and ability of understanding environment- human relationship.

Unit I

Fundamentals: The Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies: Definition, components, scope and importance, need for public awareness; Natural Resources. 

Ecosystems: Concept, Structure and function of an ecosystem, Types, Functional Components, Different ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles.

Biodiversity: Introduction to biodiversity, biogeographical classification, India as a mega diversity nation, endangered and endemic species of India, threats to biodiversity and conservation of biodiversity. Bioprospecting and Biopiracy. 

Unit III

Environmental Pollution: (a) Air Pollution: Source, Types, effects on biosphere and Meterology, Air Quality, Control. (b) Water Pollution: Types and Sources. (c) Soil Pollution: Types and Control. (d) Noise Pollution: Effect, Control (e) Thermal Pollution. (f) Radiation Pollution (g) Solid waste

Management, (h) Pollution Prevention, (i) Disaster Management 

Unit III

Social Issues and Environment: Concept of Sustainable Development; Urban problem related to energy; Water Conservation; Wasteland reclamation; Resettlement and Rehabilitation; Climate Change; Nuclear Accidents; Consumerism and Waste Products; Laws related to Environment, Pollution, Forest and Wild life; Environmental Impact Assessment. 

Unit IV

Human Population and Environment: Population Growth, Human Rights, Family Welfare

Programmes, Environment and Human Health, HIV/AIDS, Women and Child Welfare, Role of IT.

Textbooks:

1. Environmental Studies by AninditaBasak, Pearson, 2009.
2. Environmental Studies: Simplified by Benny Joseph, McGraw-Hill, 2017.

References:

1. Environmental Studies by D. L. Manjunath, Pearson, 2007.
2. Environmental Studies by Anil Kumar De and Arnab Kumar De, New Age Int. (P) Ltd, Publishers, 2005.
3. Companion to Environmental Studiesedited by Coel Castree, Mike Hulme, and James D. Proctor, Routledge, 2018.
4. Environmental Studies by Deepa Sharma and Bhupendra Singh Chabbra, New Age Int. (P) Ltd, Publishers, 2007.
5. Environmental Studies: Simplified by Raj Kumar Singh, McGraw-Hill, 2012.
6. Basics of Environmental Studies by U. K. Khare, McGraw-Hill, 2014.