Environmental Science

Paper Code: 
AENV100
Credits: 
02
Periods/week: 
02
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 
  1. To provide students a clear understanding of environmental concerns and to follow sustainable development practices
  1. To analyze concepts and methods from ecological and physical sciences and their application in environmental problem solving.

Course Outcomes (COs):

Learning outcome (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

CO38: Develop a comprehensive understanding of various ecological processes and environmental issues

CO39: Develop critical thinking for shaping strategies for environmental protection and conservation of biodiversity, social equity and sustainable development

CO40:Evaluate the consequences of human actions on the environment and ways to prevent deterioration of environment

CO41: Reflect critically on theor roles, responsibilities and identifies as citizens, consumers and environmental actors in a complex, interconnected world.

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Power Point Presentations, Informative videos

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self learning assignments, Effective questions, presentations, Field trips

 

Quiz, Poster Presentations,

Power Point Presentations, Individual and group projects, Open Book Test, Semester End Examination

 

6.00
Unit I: 
Introduction to Environment and Ecosystem
  • Scope of Environmental Studies and its applications
  • Relationship of Environmental Studies with other subjects (Multidisciplinary nature of Environment)
  • Concept of sustainability and sustainable development.
  • Environmentally important dates and abbreviations
  • Types of Ecosystems and their general characteristics
  • Producers, consumers and decomposers
  • Energy flow in the ecosystem
  • Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids
  • Ecological Succession

 

5.00
Unit II: 
Natural Resources: Renewable and Non-renewable Resources
  • Land resources and landuse change; Land degradation, soil erosion and desertification.
  • Deforestation: Causes and impacts due to mining, dam building on environment, forests, biodiversity and tribal populations.
  • Water: Use and over-exploitation of surface and ground water, floods, droughts
  • Energy resources: Renewable and non-renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources, growing energy needs, case studies

 

6.00
Unit III: 
Biodiversity and Conservation
  • Levels of biological diversity: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity
  • India as a mega-biodiversity nation; Biogeographic zones of India
  • Biodiversity patterns and global biodiversity hot spots
  • Endangered and endemic species of India
  • Threats to biodiversity: Habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts, biological invasions
  • Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity.
  • Names of International and National agencies related to biodiversity conservation

 

8.00
Unit IV: 
Environmental Pollution
 
  • Types, Causes, effects and control measures of: Air pollution; Water pollution; Soil pollution; Noise pollution
  • Pollution case studies
  • Solid waste management: Control measures of urban and industrial waste
  • Nuclear hazards and human health risks
  • Global environmental issues: Climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rain and impacts on human communities and agriculture
  • Environment Laws: Environment Protection Act,1986; Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act, 1974; Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; Forest Conservation Act, 1980 
  • International agreements: Montreal protocol, Kyoto protocol and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
5.00
Unit V: 
Human Communities and the Environment
  • Human population growth: Impacts on environment, human health and welfare
  • Resettlement and rehabilitation of project affected persons; case studies
  • Disaster management: floods, earthquake, cyclones and landslides
  • Role of women in Environmental Conservation
  • Environmental movements: Chipko, Silent valley, Bishnois of Rajasthan
  • Environmental ethics: Role of Indian and other religions and cultures in environmental conservation
  • Environmental communication and public awareness, case studies (e.g., CNG vehicles in Delhi)

 

ESSENTIAL READINGS: 
  • Agarwal, K. C. (2001). Environmental Biology. Bikaner: Nidhi Publication Ltd.
  • Barucha, E. (2004). The Biodiversity of India. Ahmedabad: Mapin Publishing Pvt. Ltd.
  • Begon, C. a. (2006). Essentials of Ecology. Blackwell.
  • Belsare, D. K. (2007). Introduction to Biodiversity. APH Publishing Corporation.
  • Bhatia, A. L., & Kohli, K. S. (2015). Ecology and Environmental Biology. RBD publishing house.
  • De, A. K. (2003). Environmental Chemistry (5th Ed.). New Age Intl. (p) Ltd.
  • Miller, G. T. (2013). Environmental Science. Cengage Larning.
  • Odum, E. (1971). Fundamentals of Ecology. W.B. Saunders Co. USA.
  • Prabu, P. (2009). Ecology and environmental Science. Avinash Paperbacks.
  • Rajagopalan, R. (2005). Environmetnal Studies. Oxford University Press.
  • Santra, S. (2011). Environmental Science. New Central Book Agency Pvt. Ltd.
  • Sharma, P. D. (2008). Ecology and Environment. Rastogi Publications.
  • Singh, S. (1991). Environmental Geography. Prayag Pustak Bhawan.
  • Srivastava, K. (2002). An Introduction to Environmental Studies. Kalyani Publishers.

 

Academic Year: 
2021-22
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