Environmental Science (Theory)

Paper Code: 
24AENV200
Credits: 
2
Contact Hours: 
2.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

The course aims to provide students with a clear understanding of environmental concerns and to follow sustainable development practices and analyze concepts and methods from ecological and physical sciences and their application in environmental problem-solving.

Course Outcomes: 

 

 

 

Learning outcome (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

 

Course Code

Course Title

 

24AENV 200

Environmental

Science

(Theory)

CO49: Develop a comprehensive understanding of various ecological processes and environmental issues

CO50: Evaluate the holistic issues related to natural resources and sustainable development

CO51: Develop critical thinking for shaping strategies for environmental protection and conservation of biodiversity, social equity and sustainable development

CO52: Evaluate the consequences of human actions on the environment and ways to prevent the deterioration of the environment

CO53: Reflect critically the roles, responsibilities, and identities of human beings as citizens, consumers and environmental factors in a complex, interconnected world.

CO54: Contribute effectively in

course-specific interaction.

Approach in

teaching:

Interactive Lectures,

Discussions,

PowerPoint

Presentations,

Informative videos

Learning

activities for the

students:

Self-learning

assignments,

Classroom Presentation,

presentations, Field trips

Continuous Assessment Test, Semester End Examination, Quiz, Poster

Presentation,

PowerPoint

Presentations,

Individual and

group projects,

Open Book

Tests

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

·         Structure and function of an ecosystem

·         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
6.00
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
6.00
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) 
6.00
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

·         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: 
  1. Bharucha Erach, The Biodiversity of India, Mapin Publishing Pvt. Ltd.,    Ahmedabad –380 013, India, Email:mapin@icenet.net
  2. Groom, Martha J., Gary K. Meffe, and Carl Ronald Carroll. Principles of Conservation Biology. Sunderland: Sinauer Associates, 2006.
  3. Grumbine, R. Edward, and Pandit, M.K. 2013. Threats from India’s Himalaya dams. Science, 339: 36-37.
  4. McCully, P. 1996. Rivers no more: the environmental effects of dams (pp. 29-64). Zed Books.
  5. McNeill, John R. 2000. Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the Twentieth Century.
  6. Odum, E.P., Odum, H.T. & Andrews, J. 1971. Fundamentals of Ecology. Philadelphia: Saunders.

 

References: 
  1. Pepper, I.L., Gerba, C.P. & Brusseau, M.L. 2011. Environmental and Pollution Science. Academic Press.
  2. Rao, M.N. & Datta, A.K. 1987. Waste Water Treatment. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.
  3. Raven, P.H., Hassenzahl, D.M. & Berg, L.R. 2012. Environment. 8th edition. John Wiley & Sons.
  4. Rosencranz, A., Divan, S., & Noble, M. L. 2001. Environmental law and policy in India. Tripathi 1992.
  5. Sengupta, R. 2003. Ecology and economics: An approach to sustainable development. OUP.

 

Academic Year: 
2024-2025
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