INTRODUCTION TO

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

In every deliberation, we must consider our impact on the next seven

generations.
- The Iroqouis Confederacy
 WHY SHOULD YOU STUDY THIS COURSE?

• Mandated by the Hon Supreme Court that EVS is to be part of

education at every stage of the academic career.

• UGC setup a committee of experts to write the syllabus

• Multidisciplinary course
 WHY SHOULD YOU STUDY THIS COURSE?
• To bring about an awareness of
the variety of environmental
concerns
• Create a pro-environmental
attitude
• Stimulate a behavioural change
• Not a collection of facts or
information
• Its about the way we should
live
• We need to re-align the way
we live
 YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
Yosemite National Park is a national park directly east of San Francisco that
was created in 1890.

Source: http://www.nps.gov

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 SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE
• The city of San Francisco experienced a tremendous population boom in the
19th century due to the gold rush.
• A powerful earthquake struck the city in 1906, followed by a devastating fire.
• The city’s water pipes were so damaged by the earthquake, that firefighters
were not able to tap fire hydrants.

Source: California State Library

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 EARTHQUAKE OF 1906

• As the city rebuilt, planners began looking for ways to

address some of the issues with the city’s infrastructure,
including the water supply.
• https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/sf
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HETCH HETCHY VALLEY

Source:
http://sierranevadaphotos.com

• The city applied to the federal government to construct a reservoir in

the Hetch Hetchy valley of Yosemite National Park.
• An act of Congress and President Woodrow Wilson’s approval were
needed for the dam and reservoir to be constructed.
• https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/hetch-hetchy 7
 HETCH HETCHY DEBATE
The debate about whether to build a dam in the Hetch Hetchy valley was
one of the first big debates between these two philosophies.

Anthropocentrists Ecocentrists
argued that San argued that this
Francisco needed violated the very
the water, and this purpose of the
was by far the Federal Parks
most viable were to be
option. preserved
ecosystems –
untouched by
human hands.
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ANTHROPOCENTRISM

• Anthropocentrism literally means “human-

centered”.
• This set of ethics protects and
promotes of human interests or well-
being at the expense of all other
factors.
• Often places an emphasis on short-
term benefits while disregarding long-
term consequences.

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 ECOCENTRISM

• Ecocentrists believe that nature

deserves to exist for its own sake
regardless of degree of usefulness to
humans.
• The preservation of ecosystems or
other living things takes priority
over human needs.

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• The dam was eventually constructed.
• The justification for building it was best stated by
Gifford Pinochet, the first man in charge of the
U.S. Forest Service.
• "Where conflicting interests must be
reconciled, the question shall always be
answered from the standpoint of the
greatest good of the greatest number in the
long run.“
• This philosophy, called resource conservationism,
was also advocated by Teddy Roosevelt.

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BEFORE AND AFTER

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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

• Environmental science is the study of the interaction of humans

with the natural environment.
• The environment includes all conditions that surround living
organisms:
• Climate
• Air and water quality
• Soil and landforms
• Presence of other living organisms

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 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CONT’D

• Environmental science and the issues

studied are complex and
interdisciplinary.
• Includes concepts and ideas from
multiple fields of study.

• Decisions have impacts in all these

fields of study.
Source: Principles of
Environmental Science,
Cunningham, 2005.

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COMBO MEAL

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• A community decides to use coal for electricity, as it
is the cheapest source available. (Economics) COAL FACTS
• The coal must be mined from under the soil.
(Geology)
• The coal must be transported to the population
center by road or rail. (Engineering)
• When it is burned at a power plant, air pollution is
released. Some of that pollution is converted to acid
in the atmosphere. (Chemistry)
• This falls as acid rain somewhere downwind.
(Meteorology)
• The acid stresses plants by affecting their nutrient
absorption. (Ecology)
• Laws are passed requiring the plant to install
pollution scrubbers. (Politics)
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 EVS- AN INSIGHT
Module-1: Ecosystem:
Key environmental problems and their basic causes; Ecosystem, earth –
life support system and ecosystem components; Energy flow in
ecosystem; Ecological succession; Nutrient, phosphorous, carbon,
nitrogen, cycles; Effect of human activities on these cycles.
Urban ecology.

Module-2: Biodiversity:
Importance, types, mega-biodiversity;
Species interaction - Extinct, endemic, endangered and rare species;
Hot-spots; GM crops;
Threats to biodiversity: Natural and anthropogenic activities;
Conservation: Terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity.
 EVS- AN INSIGHT
Module-3: Environmental pollution and climate change
Environmental hazards: Biological, Chemical, Nuclear;
Risk and evaluation of hazards;
Types of pollution: Air and water – Pollution sources, effects and
mitigation. Water quality management and its conservation; Water
footprint and virtual water, Solid waste management; Climate disruption
and ozone depletion (Kyoto protocol, Carbon sequestration methods and
Montreal Protocol –Effect of climate change on lives on earth. Carbon
credit, carbon audit.

Module 4: Natural Resources:

Water resources – properties of water, pH, conductivity, colour, use of
surface and subsurface water; Water contamination from industries,
Domestic water pollution. Water management practices. Energy
resources - oil, Natural gas, Coal, Nuclear energy. Energy efficiency and
renewable energy. Solar energy, Hydroelectric power, Ocean thermal
energy, Wind and geothermal energy. Energy from biomass, solar-
Hydrogen revolution. Natural resources and economics of India.
 EVS- AN INSIGHT
Module-5: Environmental Impact Assessment:
Introduction to environmental impact analysis.
EIA guidelines, Notification of Government of India (Environmental
Protection Act – Air, water, forest and wild life).
Impact assessment methodologies. Public awareness. Environmental
priorities in India and sustainable development. Importance of Agriculture.

Module-6: Human Population and Environment :

Urban environmental problems; Consumerism and waste products;
Promotion of economic development – Impact of population age structure
– Women and child welfare,
Women empowerment.
Sustaining human societies: Economics, environment, policies and
education.
 EVS- AN INSIGHT
Text Books:

1. G. Tyler Miller and Scott E. Spoolman (2013), Environmental Science, 14th

Edition, Cengage learning.
2. George Tyler Miller, Jr. and Scott Spoolman (2012), Living in the
Environment – Principles, Connections and Solutions, 17th Edition,
Brooks/Cole, USA.
Reference Books:

1. David M. Hassenzahl, Mary Catherine Hager, Linda R. Berg (2011),

Visualizing Environmental Science, 4thEdition, John Wiley & Sons, USA.
EVALUATION PATTERN
Activity Weightage %
Mid Term 30

TEE / FAT 30

Attendance 05

Class Assessment - Group Activity 05

Class Assessment – Quiz 10

Class Assessment – Tutorial 10

Assignment 10
 EVALUATION PATTERN

• Mid Term, FAT

• Attendance
• Quiz
• Tutorials
• Group Activity – Presentation
 Group of 5 students will choose recent topic on
environment and present in the class for 10 + 5
mins.
• Assignment - Major Project
 Group of 5 students will work on a project
related to environment problem.
 10-20 pages writing containing Name,
contribution, Introduction, Problem, Solution,
Innovation, Conclusion, References
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Academic Integrity should be maintained.
You violate the principle of academic integrity when the student:
• Cheat on an exam
• Submit the same work for two different courses without prior
permission from your professors
• Receive help on a take-home examination that calls for independent
work
• Plagiarize the assignments, submissions, papers, etc.
Academic dishonesty will be dealt severely as per the university
regulations.

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 Questions?

THANKS!
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