ENVIRONMENTAL

STUDIES

Dr. V.D.N.Kumar Abbaraju

Department of chemistry, GIS
GITAM Deemed to be University
Visakhapatnam – 45
9885144830, [email protected]
 Course objectives
• Assist individuals and groups in society to acquire a
greater sensitivity and awareness of the
environment in general its problems.
• To acquire a basic comprehension of the
environment in its totality and of its problems.
• Also, to understand the presence and role of
humans in this, which involves a critical
responsibility.
Contd.,
 Course objectives
• To acquire social values and a deep interest in the
environment.
• This may drive them to actively participate in its
protection and improvement.
• To acquire the skills needed to solve environmental
problems.
• To develop their sense of responsibility and take
note of the urgent need to pay attention to
environmental problems; to ensure that they adopt
adequate measures in this respect.
 Course outcomes
• Critical thinking
• Transferable skills
• System understanding
• Participation in community greening
• Support nature science in class room
• Local quality water and natural resources
Contd.,
 Course outcomes
• Science literacy, Ecological knowledge, Ecosystem
services, ecosystem health, stream health
• Environmental steward, environmental leadership
among youth, improvement of water quality
through restoration.
• Acceptance of recycled water, interest in
environmental carreer, scientific research, nature
enjoyment of public land, interest in post secondary
education.
 Course Overview
Course is designed to provide knowledge about the importance of
This environment and the need to preserve and protect it for future
generations.
It makes to know about the natural resources its uses in the daily life
and its importance.
Identify the uses and over exploitation of different resources,
alternate resources and processes that can be less damaging to the
environment.
Understand the concept of ecosystem, its structure and function.
Identify genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.
Contd.,
• Understand the value of Biodiversity, its
threats. possible ways to its conservation
methods.
• Identify the causes, effects and control
measures of various types of pollution and
create awareness about pollution prevention
through individual participation.
• Acquiring knowledge to take preventive steps
in controlling pollution at technical and
individual level. Contd.,
•
• Gives fundamental information on disaster
management on occurrence of earthquakes,
landslides, floods and cyclones.
•

• To give knowledge about the increase in

population and its impacts on environment,
using resources discriminately to minimize
waste.
•

• To inculcate in students eco-centric thinking

to lead a harmonious life.
•
 Text Books

1. Text book of environmental studies for

undergraduates courses by Each Bharucha,
published by – University Grants
Commission(UGC), Universities Press, India.
2. Text book of environmental studies by Kaushik &
Kaushik.(JNTU)
3. Text book of environmental studies for
 Reference Books

1. Agarwal, K.C. 2001 Environmental Biology, Nidi Publishing

Ltd., Bikaner.
2. Brunner R.C., 1989, Hazardous Waste Incineration, Mc Graw
Hill Inc.480p
• Our Syllabus is divided into total five Units
includes as
Unit – I: Multidisciplinary nature of
Environmental studies and Natural
Resources
Unit – II: Ecosystem and Biodiversity
Unit – III: Environmental Pollution
Unit – IV: Social issues and the Environment
Unit – V: Human Population and its Growth
 UNIT - I
Multidisciplinary nature of
Environmental Studies and
Natural resources
 Why we are opted environmental
Studies
•
The concepts of Environment can be understood by
the following subjects includes
1) Environmental Sciences – Life sciences
2) Environmental Chemistry – Chemistry
3) Environmental Engineering - Engineering
4) Environmental Management – Management
5) Environmental Law – Law or Management
6) Applied Environmental Chemistry –
Physical/Chemical
7) Environmental Studies – All the subjects students
can able to under stand the concept
 Definition of Environment
•
Environment is a “French” word which is derived
from the word “Environner”
• “Environner” means “Encircle (or) Surroundings”
• Environment is defined as “ It’s a total sum of air
+ water + Soil + Marine + Living organisms +
Non living organisms”
• This definition was given in Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 clearly indicates that
environment includes all the physical and biological
surroundings and their interactions.
Contd.,
All the biological and non biological things in
surrounding of an organism are included in
environment .
Flow Chart for Multidisciplinary nature
 Why Environmental studies is treated as
multidisciplinary nature ?

The physical and chemical structure of the

• abiotic
` components and energy transfer and
flow are under-stood by basic concepts like
Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Atmospheric
Science, Oceanography and Geography.
Mathematics, Statistics and Computer
Science serve as effective tools in
environmental modeling and management.
Contd.,
 Technological tools like -----Environmental
Engineering, Civil Engineering, Hydraulics and
Chemical Engineering form the basis for different
technologies dealing with the control of
environmental pollution, waste treatment which are
very important for protection of the environment.
Management and awareness programs like
Education, Economics, Sociology and Mass
communication provide the inputs for dealing with
the socio-economic aspects associated with various
developmental activities.
Contd.,
• Environmental laws provide the tools for
effective management and protection of the
environment.
• Environmental Studies, therefore, is a multi-
disciplinary subject where different aspects
are dealt with a holistic approach.
•

Contd.,
•

•
Definition of Multidisciplinary nature of
environmental studies
It can able to combine all the fields like
life sciences, physical sciences, modeling
techniques, Technological tools and
Management and awareness programs.
 SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Scope of environmental studies is broad based
and it encompasses a large number of areas and
aspects, includes as
• Natural Resources—their conservation and
management
• Ecology and biodiversity
• Environmental pollution and control
• Social issues in relation to development and
environment
• Human population and environment
Contd.,
• Environment belongs to all and is thus
important for all. Whatever be the occupation
or age of a person, he or she will be affected
by environment and will also affect the
environment by his or her deeds.
• Thus, environment is one subject that is
actually global in nature.
 OBJECTIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL
STUDIES
• Research and Development( R & D)
• Green media
• Green Advocacy
• Green Marketing
• Green Consultancy or NGO’S
Other than these we have some more objectives
includes
Contd.,
 Try to answer the questions from the following
• Are you using that resource unsustainably?
• In what ways could you reduce, reuse and
recycle that resource?
• Is there an unequal distribution of this resource
so that you are more fortunate, than many
others who have less access to it?
 Importance of Environmental Education
• Environment is not a single subject.
• It is an integration of several subjects that include
both Science and Social Studies.
• To understand all the different aspects of our
environment we need to understand biology,
chemistry, physics, geography, resource
management, economics and population issues.
• Thus the scope of environmental studies is
extremely wide and covers some aspects of nearly
every major discipline.
• Join local movements that support activities such
as saving trees in your area, go on nature treks,
recycle waste, buy environmentally friendly
products.
• Practice and promote good civic sense such as no
spitting or tobacco chewing, no throwing garbage on
the road, no smoking in public places, no urinating or
defecating in public places.
• Take part in events organised on World
Environment Day, Wildlife Week, etc.
• Visit a National Park or Sanctuary, or spend time in
whatever nature you have near your home.
 Important Institutions in INDIA
1) Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mumbai.
2) World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-I), New Delhi.
3) Center for Science and Environment (CSE), New
Delhi.
4) CPR Environmental Education Centre, Madras:
5) Centre for Environment Education
(CEE),Ahmedabad.
6) Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment
Education and Research (BVIEER), Pune.
Contd.,
 Important Institutions in INDIA
7) Uttarkhand Seva Nidhi (UKSN), Almora.
8) Uttarkhand Seva Nidhi (UKSN), Almora.
9) Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and
Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore.
10) Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun
11) Botanical Survey of India (BSI).
12) Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
 People in Environment
There have been a number of individuals who have been
instrumental in shaping the environmental history in our
country.
Some of the wellknown names in the last century include
environmentalists, scientists, administrators, legal
experts, educationists and journalists.
Salim Ali’s name is synonymous with ornithology in
India and with the Bombay Natural History Society
(BNHS).

Contd.,
• Indira Gandhi as PM has played a highly
significant role in the preservation of India’s
wildlife. It was during her period as PM
• The Wildlife Protection Act was formulated during
the period when she was PM and the Indian Board
for Wildlife was extremely active as she personally
chaired all its meetings.
• India gained a name for itself by being a major
player in CITES and other International
Environmental Treaties and Accords during her
tenure.
Contd.,
 M S Swaminathan is one of India’s foremost
agricultural scientists and has also been
concerned with various aspects of biodiversity
conservation both of cultivars and wild
biodiversity.
• He has founded the MS Swaminathan
Research Foundation in Chennai, which does
work on the conservation of biological
diversity.
Contd.,
• M C Mehta is undoubtedly India’s most famous
environmental lawyer.
• Since 1984, he has filed several Public Interest
Litigations for supporting the cause of environmental
conservation.
• His most famous and long drawn battles supported by
the Supreme Court include protecting the Taj Mahal,
cleaning up the Ganges River, banning intensive
shrimp farming on the coast, initiating Government to
implement environmental education in schools and
colleges, and a variety of other conservation issues.
Contd.,
• Medha Patkar is known as one of India’s champions who
has supported the cause of downtrodden tribal people whose
environment is being affected by the dams on the Narmada
river.
• Sunderlal Bahugna’s Chipko Movement has become an
internationally wellknown example of a highly successful
conservation action program through the efforts oflocal
people for guarding their forest resources.
His fight to prevent the construction of the Tehri Dam in
a fragile earthquake prone setting is a battle that he
continues to wage.
The Garhwal Hills will always remember his dedication
to the cause for which he has walked over 20 thousand
kilometers.