ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Paper Code: 
AENV 100
Credits: 
2
Contact Hours: 
30.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Course Objectives:

This course will enable the students to -

  1. Clear understanding of environmental concerns and to follow sustainable development practices.
  2. Stimulate them to develop their ability to apply their knowledge and adopt a standpoint on environmental issues.

 

Course Outcomes (COs):

Course

         Learning                   outcomes       

(at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment

Strategies

Paper Code

Paper Title

AENV 100

 

Environmental Science (Theory)

 

The Students will be able to:

CO1. Develop a comprehensive understanding of various ecological processes and environmental issues

CO2. Develop critical thinking for shaping strategies for environmental protection and conservation of biodiversity, social equity and sustainable development

CO3. Appreciate the various ecological linkages within the web of life

CO4. Recognize the consequences of human actions on the environment and ways to prevent deterioration of environment

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
  • 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
5.00
Unit II: 
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 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; Biogeography 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
  • Ecosystem and biodiversity services: Ecological, economic, social, ethical, aesthetic and Informational value
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
  • 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
    • Groom, Martha J., Gary K. Meffe, and Carl Ronald Carroll. Principles of Conservation Biology. Sunderland: Sinauer Associates, 2006.
    • Grumbine, R. Edward, and Pandit, M.K. 2013. Threats from India’s Himalaya dams. Science, 339: 36-37.
    • McCully, P. 1996. Rivers no more: the environmental effects of dams (pp. 29-64). Zed Books.
    • McNeill, John R. 2000. Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the Twentieth Century.
    • Odum, E.P., Odum, H.T. & Andrews, J. 1971. Fundamentals of Ecology. Philadelphia: Saunders.
    • Pepper, I.L., Gerba, C.P. & Brusseau, M.L. 2011. Environmental and Pollution Science. Academic Press.
    • Rao, M.N. & Datta, A.K. 1987. Waste Water Treatment. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.
    • Raven, P.H., Hassenzahl, D.M. & Berg, L.R. 2012. Environment. 8th edition. John Wiley & Sons.
    • Rosencranz, A., Divan, S., & Noble, M. L. 2001. Environmental law and policy in India. Tripathi 1992.
    • Sengupta, R. 2003. Ecology and economics: An approach to sustainable development. OUP.
    • Singh, J.S., Singh, S.P. and Gupta, S.R. 2014. Ecology, Environmental Science and Conservation. S. Chand Publishing, New Delhi.
    • Sodhi, N.S., Gibson, L. & Raven, P.H. (eds). 2013. Conservation Biology: Voices from the Tropics. John Wiley & Sons.
    • Thapar, V. 1998. Land of the Tiger: A Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent.
    • Warren, C. E. 1971. Biology and Water Pollution Control. WB Saunders.
    • Wilson, E. O. 2006. The Creation: An appeal to save life on earth. New York: Norton.
    • Agarwal, K.C. Environmental Biology, Nidi Publ. Ltd. Bikaner.
    • Singh, R.B., Thakur, D.K. and Chauhan, J.P.S., RBD publications, Jaipur
    • Townsend C., Harper J, and Michael Begon, Essentials of Ecology, Blackwell Science
    • Odum, E.P. Fundamentals of Ecology. W.B. Saunders Co. USA.
    • Santra S.C., Environmental Science, New Central Book Agency Pvt. Ltd.
    • Singh Savindra, Environmental Geography, Prayag Pustak Bhawan
    • Belsare D.K., Introduction to Biodiversity, APH Publishing Corporation
    • Prabu P.C., Ecology and environmental Science, Avinash Paperbacks
    • Bhatia A.L., Kohli K.S, Ecology and Environmental Biology, RBD
    • Miller G.T., Environmental Science, Cengage Learning
Academic Year: 
2020-21
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