Environmental Science: Theory into Practice

Environmental Science: Theory into Practice

UNIT – I : Introduction to Environmental Studies

•⁠  ⁠Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies; components of environment:

atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere

•⁠  ⁠Scope and importance; Concept of sustainability and sustainable development; Brief

history of environmentalism

UNIT – II : Ecosystems 

•⁠  ⁠Definition and concept of Ecosystem

•⁠  ⁠Structure of ecosystem (biotic and abiotic components); Functions of Ecosystem:

Physical (energy flow), Biological (food chains, food web, ecological succession), and

Biogeochemical (nutrient cycling) processes. Concepts of productivity, ecological

pyramids and homeostasis

UNIT – III : Natural Resources 

•⁠  ⁠Land resources: Minerals, soil, agricultural crops, natural forest products, medicinal

plants, and forest-based industries and livelihoods; Land cover, land use change, land

degradation, soil erosion, and desertification; Causes of deforestation; Impacts of mining

and dam building on environment, forests, biodiversity, and tribal communities

•⁠  ⁠Water resources: Natural and man-made sources; Uses of water; Over exploitation of 

surface and ground water resources; Floods, droughts, and international &inter- state

conflicts over water

•⁠  ⁠Energy resources: Renewable and non-renewable energy sources; Use of alternate energy 

sources; Growing energy needs; Energy contents of coal, petroleum, naturalgas and bio 

gas; Agro-residues as a biomass energy source

•⁠  ⁠Case studies: Contemporary Indian issues related to mining, dams, forests, energy, etc 

(e.g., National Solar Mission, Cauvery River water conflict, Sardar Sarovar dam, Chipko

movement, Appiko movement, Tarun Bharat Sangh, etc)

UNIT – IV : Environmental Pollution and Control 

•⁠  ⁠Environmental pollution (Air, water, soil, thermal, and noise): causes, effects, and

controls; Primary and secondary air pollutants; Air and water quality standards

•⁠  ⁠Nuclear hazards and human health risks

•⁠  ⁠Solid waste management: Control measures for various types of urban, industrialwaste, 

Hazardous waste, E-waste, etc; Waste segregation and disposal

•⁠  ⁠Pollution control measures: Introduction to legal, biological, and physico-chemical 

methods; Role in sustainability 

•⁠  ⁠Pollution case studies: Ganga Action plan (GAP), Delhi air pollution and public health

issues, Plastic waste management rules, Bhopal gas tragedy, etc