ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Course: VAC Course Code: AH01MI3VA1

Credits: 2 No of Hours: 30 Hours

➢ Course outcomes:
➢ Students will be able to learn about environment, factors affecting it, environmental
ethics and its protection.
➢ Students will be able to describe a system, component, or process to meet desired needs
within realistic constrains such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical
and sustainability.
➢ Students will be able to critically analyze technical subject matter for scientific merit
apply learned environmental knowledge and understanding to solve technical/ research
problems in new context.

➢ COURSE CONTENT: Good to

to
Teaching
Desirabl
Know

Know

Know
Unit Hrs Content Learning Weightage
Must

Method
e

Multidisciplinary nature of
Environmental Studies
• Multidisciplinary nature of
Unit Environmental Studies
1hrs  Lecture 5%
I
• Concept of sustainability and
sustainable development

Ecosystems
• What is an ecosystem? Structure and
function of an ecosystem; Energy
flow in the ecosystem; Food chains,
Unit food webs and ecological Lecture
4hrs  10%
II succession. Case studies of the
following ecosystems:
a. Forest ecosystem
b. Grassland ecosystem
c. Desert ecosystem
 d. Aquatic ecosystems (ponds,
streams, lakes, rivers, oceans,
estuaries)
• History of ecosystem ecology
• Ecosystem services
Natural Resources
Renewable and Non-renewable resources
• Land resources and land use change;
Land degradation, soil erosion and
desertification.
• Deforestation: Causes and impacts
due to mining, dam building on
environment, forests, biodiversity
Unit and tribal populations.
5hrs  Lecture 15%
III • Water: Use and over-exploitation of
surface and ground water, floods,
droughts, conflicts over water
(international & inter-state).
• Energy resources: Renewable and
non-renewable energy sources, use
of alternate energy sources, growing
energy needs, case studies.

Biodiversity and its conservation

• Levels of biological diversity:

genetic, species and ecosystem
diversity; Bio geographic zones of
India; Biodiversity patterns and
global biodiversity hotspots
• India as a mega-biodiversity nation;
Endangered and endemic species of
Unit India
6hrs  Lecture 15%
IV • Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss,
poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife
conflicts, biological invasions;
Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ
and Ex-situ conservation of
biodiversity.
• Ecosystem and biodiversity
services: ecological, economic,
social, ethical, aesthetic and
informational value.
 • Nature Reserves, tribal populations
and rights, Human wildlife conflicts
in Indian context

Environmental Pollution
Definition
• Cause, effects and control measures
of: -
a. Air pollution
b. Water pollution
c. Soil pollution
d. Light pollution
e. Noise pollution
Unit
6hrs f. Thermal pollution  Lecture 15%
V
g. Nuclear hazards
• Climate change, Greenhouse effect,
Global warming, Acid rain, Ozone
layer depletion.
• Solid waste Management: control
measures of urban and industrial
wastes.
• Pollution case studies.

Environmental Policies & Practices

• Environmental Laws: Environment

Protection Act.
• Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act.
• Water (Prevention and control of
Pollution) Act
• Wildlife Protection Act
Unit
3hrs • Forest Conservation Act  Lecture 15%
VI
• International Agreements: Montreal
protocol, Kyoto protocol,
Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD)
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Carbon footprint
• Sustainable Development Goals
 Human communities and the
environment

• Human Population growth – impacts

on environment
• Resettlement and rehabilitation of
project affected persons: case
studies
Unit • Disaster management – floods, 
3hrs Lecture 15%
VII
earthquake, cyclone and landslides
• Environmental movements: Chipko,
Silent Valley, Bishnois of Rajasthan
• Environmental ethics
• Consumerism and Environment
• Environmental communication and
public awareness, case studies.

Field work
• Visit to a local area to document
environmental assets river/
forest/grassland/hill/mountain
• Visit to a local polluted site-
Urban/Rural/Industrial/Agricultural
• Study of common plants, insects,
Unit Field
2hrs birds. Study of simple ecosystems-  10%
VIII visit
pond, river, hill slopes, etc.
• Course Outcomes:
• Students learn to knowledge on
Echo systems, biodiversity and
environmental policies and
practices.

➢ Recommended Books:
1. Agarwal, K.C. 2001 Environmental Biology, Nidi Publ. Ltd. Bikaner.
2. Brunner R.C., 1989, Hazardous Waste Incineration, McGraw Hill Inc. 480p
3. Clark R.S., Marine Pollution, Clanderson Press Oxford (TB)
4. Cunningham, W.P. Cooper, T.H. Gorhani, E & Hepworth, M.T. 2001, Environmental
Encyclopedia, Jaico Publ. House, Mumabai, 1196p
5. De A.K., Environmental Chemistry, Wiley Eastern Ltd.
6. Gleick, H.P. 1993. Water in crisis, Pacific Institute for Studies in Dev., Environment &
Security. Stockholm Env. Institute Oxford Univ. Press. 473p
7. Hawkins R.E., Encyclopedia of Indian Natural History, Bombay Natural History
Society, Bombay (R)
8. Heywood, V.H & Waston, R.T. 1995. Global Biodiversity Assessment. Cambridge
Univ. Press 1140p.