The scope of studying environmental aspects is extremely wide and covers several crucial aspects of almost all disciplines.
The survival of any organism requires a steady supply of food and other materials and removal of waste products from its environment. The degradation of the environment is becoming a serious problem for the existence of human beings and other life. Pollution of soil, water and air causes harm to living organisms as well as loss to valuable natural resources. Several important aspects are studied under the field called as Environmental Studies.
Environmental science Module 1 Topic. This PPT is not a work of mine and was provided by our college professor during our graduation, so I am not sure about the original author. The credit goes to the Original author.
Wetlands, a fragile ecosystem known for its functions and services is becoming more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Hence in order not to miss out on these services provided by wetlands, it is imperative to put in place climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in regards to wetlands management.
Environmental science Module 1 Topic. This PPT is not a work of mine and was provided by our college professor during our graduation, so I am not sure about the original author. The credit goes to the Original author.
Wetlands, a fragile ecosystem known for its functions and services is becoming more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Hence in order not to miss out on these services provided by wetlands, it is imperative to put in place climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in regards to wetlands management.
Ecosystem services for biodiversity conservation and sustainable agricultureExternalEvents
The presentation by Dr. Abigael Otinga (University of Eldoret) outlines the concept of “ecosystem services” and particularly their relevance not only for biodiversity conservation but also for ensuring sustainable production of healthy and abundant crops. The presentation was given at a national training workshops for stakeholders involved in the revision of the Kenya NBSAP that was held at ICRAF in Nairobi, 25-26 May 2016. More information on the event are available at: www.fao.org/africa/news/detail-news/en/c/417489/ .
Environmental Science and Engineering (BE), This subject is common for all Engineer's and its based on Anna University Syllabus.
If ur a tech loving person, do visit http://insmartworld.blogspot.in/
1. “What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” ― MAHATMA GANDHI ―
2. “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
3. The term “resource” means any thing that we use from our environment to achieve our objective. For example, we require bricks, cement, iron, wood etc. to construct a building. All these items are called the resources for construction of building. A resource can be defined as „any natural or artificial substance, energy or organism, which is used by human being for its welfare. These resources are of two types: Natural Resources Artificial Resources
4. “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” ― Gary Snyder
5. CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES As the human population is continuously growing the consumption of natural resources is also increasing. With the increasing industrialization and urbanization of the modern human society, the use of all the resources is rising. If they are not properly used and well managed, a serious scarcity will result. Therefore we need to conserve the natural resources. This will also upset the ecological balance. Conservation is the proper management of a natural resource to prevent its exploitation, destruction or degradation. Conservation is the sum total of activities, which can derive benefits from natural resources but at the same time prevent excessive use leading to destruction or degradation.
6. Need for Conservation of Natural Resources We know that nature provides us all our basic needs but we tend to overexploit it. If we go on exploiting the nature, there will be no more resources available in future. There is an urgent need to conserve the nature. Some of the needs are : to maintain ecological balance for supporting life. to preserve different kinds of species (biodiversity). to make the resources available for present and future generation. to ensure the survival of human race.
7. Conservation of Natural Resources and Traditions of India The need for conservation of natural resources was felt by our predecessors and in India, there was a tradition of respecting and preserving the nature and natural resources. Natural resources were conserved in the form of sacred groves/forests, sacred pools and lakes, sacred species etc. In our country the conservation of natural forests is known from the time of Lord Asoka. Sacred forests are forest patches of different dimensions dedicated by the tribal to their deities and ancestral spirits. Cutting down trees, hunting and other human interferences were strictly prohibited in these forests.
8. This practice is wide spread particularly in peninsular, central and eastern India and has resulted in the protection of a large number of plants and animals. Similarly, several water bodies, e.g., Khecheopalri lake in Sikkim was declared sacred by people, thus, protecting aquati
Ecosystem services for biodiversity conservation and sustainable agricultureExternalEvents
The presentation by Dr. Abigael Otinga (University of Eldoret) outlines the concept of “ecosystem services” and particularly their relevance not only for biodiversity conservation but also for ensuring sustainable production of healthy and abundant crops. The presentation was given at a national training workshops for stakeholders involved in the revision of the Kenya NBSAP that was held at ICRAF in Nairobi, 25-26 May 2016. More information on the event are available at: www.fao.org/africa/news/detail-news/en/c/417489/ .
Environmental Science and Engineering (BE), This subject is common for all Engineer's and its based on Anna University Syllabus.
If ur a tech loving person, do visit http://insmartworld.blogspot.in/
1. “What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” ― MAHATMA GANDHI ―
2. “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
3. The term “resource” means any thing that we use from our environment to achieve our objective. For example, we require bricks, cement, iron, wood etc. to construct a building. All these items are called the resources for construction of building. A resource can be defined as „any natural or artificial substance, energy or organism, which is used by human being for its welfare. These resources are of two types: Natural Resources Artificial Resources
4. “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” ― Gary Snyder
5. CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES As the human population is continuously growing the consumption of natural resources is also increasing. With the increasing industrialization and urbanization of the modern human society, the use of all the resources is rising. If they are not properly used and well managed, a serious scarcity will result. Therefore we need to conserve the natural resources. This will also upset the ecological balance. Conservation is the proper management of a natural resource to prevent its exploitation, destruction or degradation. Conservation is the sum total of activities, which can derive benefits from natural resources but at the same time prevent excessive use leading to destruction or degradation.
6. Need for Conservation of Natural Resources We know that nature provides us all our basic needs but we tend to overexploit it. If we go on exploiting the nature, there will be no more resources available in future. There is an urgent need to conserve the nature. Some of the needs are : to maintain ecological balance for supporting life. to preserve different kinds of species (biodiversity). to make the resources available for present and future generation. to ensure the survival of human race.
7. Conservation of Natural Resources and Traditions of India The need for conservation of natural resources was felt by our predecessors and in India, there was a tradition of respecting and preserving the nature and natural resources. Natural resources were conserved in the form of sacred groves/forests, sacred pools and lakes, sacred species etc. In our country the conservation of natural forests is known from the time of Lord Asoka. Sacred forests are forest patches of different dimensions dedicated by the tribal to their deities and ancestral spirits. Cutting down trees, hunting and other human interferences were strictly prohibited in these forests.
8. This practice is wide spread particularly in peninsular, central and eastern India and has resulted in the protection of a large number of plants and animals. Similarly, several water bodies, e.g., Khecheopalri lake in Sikkim was declared sacred by people, thus, protecting aquati
Education is a process of development which includes the three major
activities, teaching, training and instruction. Teaching is social as well as
a professional activity. It is science as well as art. Modern education is not
in a sphere but it has a long and large area of study. Now a days most part
of the world population is facing different problems related with the nature
and they are studying the solutions to save the nature and global problems,
but on the second hand we even today do not try to understand our local
problems related to the nature. So for the awareness of the problems of
nature and pollution the higher education commission has suggested to
add the Environmental Science in the course of different levels.
Environmental Science is also well known as Environmental Studies in
the Indian Colleges and Universities. Before that it was the part of the
science but now a days it is a very common subject and higher education
commission has suggested including it as a general paper in all the courses.
Ecology is the scientific study of organisms `at home' which is called as the `environment'. The term `environment' refers to those parts of the world or the total set of circumstances which surround an organism or a group of organisms.
Environment may be consider as our surroundings which includes everything around us, i.e. the non-living (abiotic) and living (biotic) environment.
The abiotic environment consists of air, water and soil, while the biotic environment includes all the living organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms) that we regularly come in contact.
Environment – Basic Concepts:
The environment is composed of four basic components:
i. Atmosphere
ii. Hydrosphere
iii. Lithosphere
iii. Biosphere.
E-content is a Comprehensive package of teaching material put into hypermedia format. Hypermedia is multimedia with internet deplorability. E-content can not be created by a teaching faculty alone . It needs the role of teacher, Video editor, production assistants, web developers (HTML 5 or Adobe captivate, etc). Analyze the learner needs and goals of the instructional material development, development of a delivery system and content, pilot study of the material developed, implementation, evaluating, refining the materials etc. In designing and development of E-content we have to adopt one of the instructional design models based on our requirements.
Pedagogy is the most commonly understood approach to teaching. It refers to the theory and practice of learning. Pedagogy is often described as the act of teaching. Pedagogy has little variations between traditional teaching and online teaching. Online teaching pedagogy is a method of effective teaching practice specifically developed for teaching via the internet. It has a set of prescribed methods, strategies, and practices for teaching academic subjects in an online (or blended) environment, where students are in a physical location separate from the faculty member.
Technology has changed the possibilities within teaching and learning. Classes, which prior to the digital era were restricted to lectures, talks, and physical objects, no longer have to be designed in that manner. Training in a synchronous virtual classroom can only be successful with the active participation and engagement of the learners. Explore the Virtual Classroom’s features and see how they can support and enhance your tutoring style.
• The monitoring and evaluation of the institutional processes require a carefully structured system of internal and external review. The NAAC expects the Institutions to undertake continuous Academic and Administrative Audits (AAA). This presentation is intended to serve as advisory to all accredited HEIs who volunteer to undertake AAA. The pros and cons of this process are also highlighted. Academic and Administrative Audit is the process of evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of the administrative procedure. It includes assessment of policies, strategies & functions of the various administrative departments, control of the overall administrative system, etc. This checklist gives an overview what the audit committee members may look into while visiting an institution for this purpose. It invariably follows the Quality Indicators Framework prescribed by Accreditation Council in India.
• The monitoring and evaluation of the institutional processes require a carefully structured system of internal and external review. The NAAC expects the Institutions to undertake continuous Academic and Administrative Audits (AAA). This presentation is intended to serve as advisory to all accredited HEIs who volunteer to undertake AAA.
Chemical analysis data of water samples can not be used directly for understanding. They are to be used for various calculations in order to determine the quality parameters that have a lot of significances. A. Balasubramanian and D. Nagaraju, of the Department of Studies in Earth Science, Centre for Advanced Studies, University of Mysore, Mysore-570006, Karnataka, India have recently brought out a software and its application manual as a good book for reference and execution. The Name of the software is WATCHIT meaning Water Chemistry Interpretation Techniques. This software computes more than 100 parameters pertaining to water quality interpretations. The software follows its own method of approach to determine the required results. Systems International Units are used. Limited input parameters are required. This is suitable for all scientific research, government water quality data interpretations and for understanding the quality of water before using it.
Water conservation refers to reducing the usage of water and recycling of waste water for different purposes like domestic usage, industries, agriculture etc. This technical article highlights most of the popular methods of water conservation. A special note on rainwater harvesting is also provided.
This module gives an overview of general applications of current hydrogeological aspects. It is for the basic understanding of students and research scholars.
Climate Extreme (extreme weather or climate event) refers to the occurrence of a value of a weather or climate variable above (or below) a threshold value near the upper (or lower) ends of the range of observed values of the variable. Extreme weather and climate events, interacting with exposed and vulnerable human and natural systems, can lead to disasters.
WATER RESOURCES PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT POSSIBILITIES IN CHAMARAJANAGAR TALUK...Prof. A.Balasubramanian
Any unplanned development and utilization of water resources with result in water scarcity. In many parts of the developing world. Such a situation exists. In order to do proper planning and
management of water resources, it is necessary to conduct detailed analyses of the factors, which influence the water availability and its uses. In the present study, a comprehensive analysis have been undertaken for proper utilization of water resources in Chamarajanagar Taluk, which has been identified as one of the drought hit districts of Karnataka, in India. The factors analysed in this work are, surface and groundwater availability, land use, cropping pattern, recharge potential of soils and the rainfall pattern in typical areas of Taluk. It is observed that the problem of water scarcity is mainly due to the lack of irrigation planning and management. Hence, a
modified cropping pattern is suggested by taking into consideration of all available water resources and other conditions.
In broad terms, cultural geography examines the cultural values, practices, discursive and material expressions and artefacts of people, the cultural diversity and plurality of society.
It also emphasizes on how cultures are distributed over space, how places and identities are produced, how people make sense of places and build senses of place, and how people produce and communicate knowledge and meaning.
Minerals are formed by changes in chemical energy in systems which contain one fluid or vapor phase. In nature, minerals are formed by crystallisation or precipitation from concentrated solutions. These solutions are called as ore-bearing fluids. Ore-bearing fluids are characterised by high concentration of certain metallic or other elements.
Fluids are the most effective agents for the transport of material in the mantle and the Earth's crust.
Soils are complex mixers forming the skin of the earth's surface. Soil is a dynamic layer in which many complex chemical, physical and biological activities are going on constantly. Soils become adjusted to conditions of climate, landform and vegetation, and will change internally when those controlling conditions change. Soils are products of weathering. Soils play a dominant role in earth's geomorphic processes in a cyclic manner. The characteristics of soils are very essential for several reasons. This module highlights these characteristics.
GIS TECHNIQUES IN WATER RESOURCES PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT IN CHAMARAJANAGAR ...Prof. A.Balasubramanian
The over-exploitation and contamination of groundwater continue to threaten the long-term sustainability of our precious water resources, in spite of the best efforts made by various agencies.
This has many serious implications to the economic development of a country like India. Lack of
judicious planning and integration of environmental consideration to ground water development
projects are primarily responsible for such a state of affair in the ground water sector. Geographical Information Systems could be of immense help in planning sustainable ground water management strategies, especially in hard rock areas with limited ground water potential. Data collected from
Satellite Imagery and through field investigations have been integrated, on a GIS platform, for demarcation and prioritization of areas suitable for ground water development and ground water augmentation. An attempt has also been made to assess the vulnerability of the area to ground water
contamination. This paper demonstrates the utility of GIS in planning judicious management of ground water resources in a typical hard rock area of Chamarajanagar Taluk, Karnataka, state India.
Nanobiomaterials are very effective components for several biomedical and pharmaceutical studies. Among the metallic, organic, ceramic and polymeric nanomaterials, metallic nanomaterials have shown certain prominent biomedical applications. Enormous works have been done to synthesize, analyse and administer the metallic nanoparticles for various kinds of medical and therapeutic applications, during the last forty years. In these analyses, the prominent biomedical applications of ten metallic nanobiomaterials have been reviewed from various sources and works. It has been found that almost nine of them are used in a very wide spectrum of medical and theranostic applications.
A variety of Nano-biomaterials are synthesised, characterised and tested to find out their potentialities by global scientific communities, during the last three decades. Among those, nanostructured ceramics, cements and coatings are being considered for major use in orthopaedic, dental and other medical applications. The development of novel biocompatible ceramic materials with improved biomedical functions is at the forefront of health-related applications, all over the world. Understanding of the potential biomedical applications of ceramic nanomaterials will provide a major insight into the future developments. This study reviews and enlists the prominent potential biomedical applications of ceramic nanomaterials, like Calcium Phosphate (CaP), Tri-Calcium Phosphate (TCP), Hydroxy-Apatite(HAP), TCP+HAP, Si substituted HAP, Calcium Sulphate and Carbonate, Bioactive Glasses, Bioactive Glass Ceramics, Titania-Based Ceramics, Zirconia Ceramics, Alumina Ceramcis and Ceramic Polymer Composites.
The present forest and tree cover of the country is 78.37 million ha in 2007 which is 23.84% of the geographical areas and it includes 2.82% tree cover. This becomes 25.25%, if the areas above tree line i.e., 4000m are excluded from the total geographical area. The forest cover is classified into 3 canopy density classes.
1. Very Dense Forest (VDF) with canopy density more than 70%
2. Moderately Dense Forest (MDF) with Canopy density between 40-70% and
3. Open Forest (OF) with Canopy density between 10-40%
UNDERSTANDING WHAT GREEN WASHING IS!.pdfJulietMogola
Many companies today use green washing to lure the public into thinking they are conserving the environment but in real sense they are doing more harm. There have been such several cases from very big companies here in Kenya and also globally. This ranges from various sectors from manufacturing and goes to consumer products. Educating people on greenwashing will enable people to make better choices based on their analysis and not on what they see on marketing sites.
Diabetes is a rapidly and serious health problem in Pakistan. This chronic condition is associated with serious long-term complications, including higher risk of heart disease and stroke. Aggressive treatment of hypertension and hyperlipideamia can result in a substantial reduction in cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes 1. Consequently pharmacist-led diabetes cardiovascular risk (DCVR) clinics have been established in both primary and secondary care sites in NHS Lothian during the past five years. An audit of the pharmaceutical care delivery at the clinics was conducted in order to evaluate practice and to standardize the pharmacists’ documentation of outcomes. Pharmaceutical care issues (PCI) and patient details were collected both prospectively and retrospectively from three DCVR clinics. The PCI`s were categorized according to a triangularised system consisting of multiple categories. These were ‘checks’, ‘changes’ (‘change in drug therapy process’ and ‘change in drug therapy’), ‘drug therapy problems’ and ‘quality assurance descriptors’ (‘timer perspective’ and ‘degree of change’). A verified medication assessment tool (MAT) for patients with chronic cardiovascular disease was applied to the patients from one of the clinics. The tool was used to quantify PCI`s and pharmacist actions that were centered on implementing or enforcing clinical guideline standards. A database was developed to be used as an assessment tool and to standardize the documentation of achievement of outcomes. Feedback on the audit of the pharmaceutical care delivery and the database was received from the DCVR clinic pharmacist at a focus group meeting.
Natural farming @ Dr. Siddhartha S. Jena.pptxsidjena70
A brief about organic farming/ Natural farming/ Zero budget natural farming/ Subash Palekar Natural farming which keeps us and environment safe and healthy. Next gen Agricultural practices of chemical free farming.
Characterization and the Kinetics of drying at the drying oven and with micro...Open Access Research Paper
The objective of this work is to contribute to valorization de Nephelium lappaceum by the characterization of kinetics of drying of seeds of Nephelium lappaceum. The seeds were dehydrated until a constant mass respectively in a drying oven and a microwawe oven. The temperatures and the powers of drying are respectively: 50, 60 and 70°C and 140, 280 and 420 W. The results show that the curves of drying of seeds of Nephelium lappaceum do not present a phase of constant kinetics. The coefficients of diffusion vary between 2.09.10-8 to 2.98. 10-8m-2/s in the interval of 50°C at 70°C and between 4.83×10-07 at 9.04×10-07 m-8/s for the powers going of 140 W with 420 W the relation between Arrhenius and a value of energy of activation of 16.49 kJ. mol-1 expressed the effect of the temperature on effective diffusivity.
WRI’s brand new “Food Service Playbook for Promoting Sustainable Food Choices” gives food service operators the very latest strategies for creating dining environments that empower consumers to choose sustainable, plant-rich dishes. This research builds off our first guide for food service, now with industry experience and insights from nearly 350 academic trials.
"Understanding the Carbon Cycle: Processes, Human Impacts, and Strategies for...MMariSelvam4
The carbon cycle is a critical component of Earth's environmental system, governing the movement and transformation of carbon through various reservoirs, including the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. This complex cycle involves several key processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and carbon sequestration, each contributing to the regulation of carbon levels on the planet.
Human activities, particularly fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, have significantly altered the natural carbon cycle, leading to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and driving climate change. Understanding the intricacies of the carbon cycle is essential for assessing the impacts of these changes and developing effective mitigation strategies.
By studying the carbon cycle, scientists can identify carbon sources and sinks, measure carbon fluxes, and predict future trends. This knowledge is crucial for crafting policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions, enhancing carbon storage, and promoting sustainable practices. The carbon cycle's interplay with climate systems, ecosystems, and human activities underscores its importance in maintaining a stable and healthy planet.
In-depth exploration of the carbon cycle reveals the delicate balance required to sustain life and the urgent need to address anthropogenic influences. Through research, education, and policy, we can work towards restoring equilibrium in the carbon cycle and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
Micro RNA genes and their likely influence in rice (Oryza sativa L.) dynamic ...Open Access Research Paper
Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs molecules having approximately 18-25 nucleotides, they are present in both plants and animals genomes. MiRNAs have diverse spatial expression patterns and regulate various developmental metabolisms, stress responses and other physiological processes. The dynamic gene expression playing major roles in phenotypic differences in organisms are believed to be controlled by miRNAs. Mutations in regions of regulatory factors, such as miRNA genes or transcription factors (TF) necessitated by dynamic environmental factors or pathogen infections, have tremendous effects on structure and expression of genes. The resultant novel gene products presents potential explanations for constant evolving desirable traits that have long been bred using conventional means, biotechnology or genetic engineering. Rice grain quality, yield, disease tolerance, climate-resilience and palatability properties are not exceptional to miRN Asmutations effects. There are new insights courtesy of high-throughput sequencing and improved proteomic techniques that organisms’ complexity and adaptations are highly contributed by miRNAs containing regulatory networks. This article aims to expound on how rice miRNAs could be driving evolution of traits and highlight the latest miRNA research progress. Moreover, the review accentuates miRNAs grey areas to be addressed and gives recommendations for further studies.
Micro RNA genes and their likely influence in rice (Oryza sativa L.) dynamic ...
Environmental studies
1. 1
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
by
Prof A. BALASUBRAMANIAN
CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES IN EARTH SCIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF MYSORE
MYSORE-6
The Wonderful World of Nature
Earth is our home planet. It is the only planet in the solar system known to harbor
life. It is also called as a Blue planet. The World we live in, is in this wonderful
planet It has a wonderful world with continents, oceans, islands and icecaps. This
wonderful world is for those who have eyes to see the beauty and its great variety, its
dynamism, ups and downs, comprising all objects with colors and complexions. The
flowers that blooms in the morning with fragrance, the sun still shining, the beautiful
butterflies wandering all along, fireflies that we can see and the pleasant sounds that
we can hear from the singing birds- all to please the human life , forever. The grass
and plants dancing to the wind which moves across them, it ripples and whispers.
Then we can count those different shades of green all along the fields we move. The
songs of birds, roaring sounds of animals, enjoyable climate and weather, tasty fruits
of nature and the waterfalls, rivers, tidal inlets and lagoons- all to provide a pleasing
condition to the human life.
The Planet Earth
The Earth is made up of complex, interactive systems that are often unpredictable.
Air, water, land, and life—including humans—combine forces to create a constantly
changing world. Over two million different forms of life have been identified on
planet Earth to this day, but scientists believe that there are millions more that have yet
to be identified. The Planet Earth, like Mercury and Venus, features mountain ranges,
canyons, ridges, plains, and regions of volcanic activity. We all live in a wonderful
world of nature. Study of earth and its environment is a fascinating area of science.
Definition of Environment:
For several decades, the word environment was frequently used by almost all people
around us, on television, circulars and in newspapers. Everyone is speaking about the
2. 2
protection and preservation of the environment. Global environmental summits are
being held regularly to discuss the emerging environmental issues, in order to solve
them. The term "Environment" denotes the total set of circumstances surrounding life.
It is everything surrounding us. It can be living or nonliving things. Environment
includes physical, chemical and other natural forces. The term environment has been
derived from a French word “Environ” means to surround. It refers to both abiotic
(physical or non-living) and biotic (living) environment. All living things live in
their environment. They constantly interact with it and change in response to
conditions in their environment.
Environmental Science:
The subject Environmental Science deals with these circumstances or conditions.
Every life thrives on the land, water and air. The term environment always denotes
the natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area. Environmental
science is an interdisciplinary academic field. It integrates various sciences to study
the structure and function of our life-supporting environment and to understand the
causes, effects, and solutions of different environmental problems. Apart from the
study of biological and physical characters of the environment, it also includes the
social and cultural factors and impact of humans on the environment. The aims of
studying Environmental Science are to know more about the sustainable way of
living, to understand the behavior of organisms under natural conditions, to educate
people about environmental problem & issues, to use natural resources more
effectively without harming the environment and to teach the human beings the
importance of our environment and how to conserve it.
Elements of Environment:
Environment is constituted by the interacting systems of physical, biological and
cultural elements. These elements are inter-related in various ways, individually as
well as collectively. These elements may be explained as under:
(1) Physical elements : Physical elements are as space, landforms, water bodies,
climate soils, rocks and minerals. They determine the variable character of the human
habitat, its opportunities as well as limitations.
(2) Biological elements: Biological elements such as plants, animals,
microorganisms and humans constitute the biosphere.
(3) Cultural elements: Cultural elements such as economic, social and political
elements are essentially manmade features, which make cultural milieu.
Various Types of Environment
3. 3
According to Kurt Lewin, environment is of three types which influence the
personality of an individual as under:
(a) Physical Environment,
(b) Social and Cultural Environment, and
(c) Psychological Environment.
1. The Physical environment refers to geographical climate and weather or physical
conditions wherein and individual lives. The human races are greatly influenced by
the climate. The human working efficiency also depends on the climatic conditions.
The physique of an individual also depends on the climate conditions as the individual
tries to adjust in the physical environment.
2. The Social Environment includes an individual’s social, economic and political
condition wherein he lives. The moral, cultural and emotional forces influence the life
and nature of individual behaviour.
3. The Psychological Environment: Every individual has his/her own psychological
environment, in which he/she lives. Kurt Lewin has used the term ‘life space’ for
explaining the psychological environment. The Psychological environment enables us
to understand the personality of an individual. If a person is unable to overcome the
barriers, he /she may either get frustrated or compelled to change the goal towards a
new psychological environment.
Scope and Importance:
Environment and the organisms are the two dynamic and complex components of
nature. Environment regulates the life of all the organisms including human beings.
Human beings interact with the environment more vigorously than any other living
beings. Environment is comprised of the interacting systems of physical, biological
and cultural elements which are interlinked both individually and collectively. To
understand all the different aspects of environment, one need to understand the basic
principles of subjects like geology, biology, chemistry, physics, geography, resource
management, economics and demography. The scope of studying environmental
aspects is extremely wide and covers several crucial aspects of almost all disciplines.
The survival of any organism requires a steady supply of food and other materials and
removal of waste products from its environment. The degradation of the environment
is becoming a serious problem for the existence of human beings and other life.
Pollution of soil, water and air causes harm to living organisms as well as loss to
4. 4
valuable natural resources. Several important aspects are studied under the field called
as Environmental Studies.
Environmental studies:
Environmental studies involves educating the people for preserving the quality of
environment. The scope of environmental studies include:
1. Developing an awareness and sensitivity to the total environment and its related
problems
2. Motivating people for active participation in environmental protection and
improvement
3. Developing skills for active identification and development of solutions to
environmental problems
4. Imbibe and inculcate the necessity for conservation of natural resources.
5. Evaluation of environmental programmes in terms of social, economic, ecological
and aesthetic factors.
Increasing population, Urbanization, climate change, severe drought and poverty have
generated pressure on the natural resources and lead to a degradation of the
environment.
Components of Environment:
Environment mainly consists of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere.
But it can be roughly divided into two types such as (a) Micro environment and (b)
Macro environment.
a) Micro environment refers to the immediate local surrounding of the organism.
(b) Macro environment refers to all the physical and biotic conditions that surround
the organism externally.
Structure of Environment:
Environment is both physical and biological. It includes both living and non-living
components.
(i) Physical Environment
The Physical Environment is classified into three broad categories viz.
(i) Solid, (ii) Liquid (iii) Gas.
These represent the spheres: (i) the lithosphere (solid earth), (ii) the hydrosphere
(water component) and (iii) the atmosphere.
5. 5
As such, the three basic of physical environment may be categorized as, (i)
Lithospheric Environment , (ii) Hydrospheric Environment and (iii) Atmospheric
Environment.
The scientists have classified them into smaller units based on different spatial scales,
e.g.
(i) Mountain Environment
(ii) Glacier Environment
(iii) Plateau Environment
(iv) Coastal Environment
(v) Cave Environment.
(ii) Biological Environment
The biological of the environment consists of: (i) Plants (flora) and (ii) Animals
(fauna). Thus, the biotic environment further be divided into floral environment and
faunal environment. All the organisms work to form their social groups and
organizations at several levels.
Built Environment
The Built Environment subject area is now established as a recognised field of study
by the international academic community. The term ‘built environment’ refers to
aspects of our surroundings that are built by humans, that is, distinguished from the
natural environment. It includes not only buildings, but the human-made spaces
between buildings, such as parks, and the infrastructure that supports human activity
such as transportation networks, utilities networks, flood protection,
telecommunications and so on.
In social science, the term built environment is often used. It refers to the man-made
surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, ranging in scale from
buildings to parks. It has been defined as "the humanitarian-made space in which
people live, work, and recreate on a day-to-day basis." The "built environment
encompasses places and spaces created or modified by people including buildings,
parks, and transportation systems." Currently, built environments are typically used to
describe the interdisciplinary field that addresses the design, construction,
management, and use of these man-made surroundings as an interrelated whole as
well as their relationship to human activities over time.
6. 6
Urban Environment
The term "urban environment" refers to the environment of a city. It is characterized
by many buildings in a limited amount of space, with a high per capita per square
mile. Most of the living spaces, working spaces, shopping areas, health and
educational facilities, services, etc. are grouped in close proximity to each other. It is
usually characterized by limited open areas (green spaces) in specifically planned
areas or places that have been abandoned because of the higher value of real estate in
urban areas. Many urban areas are plagued by lack of space for many activities and
establishments.
Environmental Education :
Environmental Education (EE) is a process of understanding the overall perspective
of knowledge and awareness of the environment. It sensitizes the society about
environmental issues and challenges to the interested individuals and to the younger
generations to develop skills and expertise, in order to provide appropriate solutions.
Shortage of natural resources, impacts of Global Climate change, loss of biodiversity,
declining fisheries, depletion of ozone layer, illegal trade of endangered species,
destruction of habitats, degradation of land, depleting ground water resources,
introduction of alien species, environmental pollution, solid waste disposal, storm
water and sewage disposal options, pose a serious threat to ecosystems in forest, rural,
urban and marine zones. Environmental education is directed at shaping
environmental awareness in a local and global context.
The Guiding Principles:
According to UNESCO, the guiding principles of environmental education should be
as follows:
(a) Environmental education should be compulsory, right from the primary up to the
post graduate stage.
(b) Environmental education should have an interdisciplinary approach by including
physical, chemical, biological as well as socio-cultural aspects of the environment. It
should build a bridge between biology and technology.
(c) Environmental education should take into account the historical perspective, the
current and the potential historical issues.
(d) Environmental education should emphasise the importance of sustainable
development i.e., economic development without degrading the environment.
(e) Environmental education should emphasise the necessity of seeking international
cooperation in environmental planning.
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(f) Environmental education should lay more stress on practical activities and first
hand experiences.
Environmental Education is a process to promote the awareness and understanding of
the environment, its relationship with man and his activities. It is also aimed at
developing responsible actions necessary for preservation, conservation and
improvement of the environment and its components.
Various combinations of words such as Environmental Education (E.E.),
Environmental study (E.S.) and Environmental Approach (E.A.) are being used in the
literature in the context of environment and education. The aspects of environmental
education should be interdisciplinary, drawing from biological, sociological,
anthropological, economic political and human resources. Environmental Education
includes conservation, outdoor and natural resource education as well as nature study
but it also includes everything that relates to man and his environment.
The sharing of resources is a global concern. The materials of the earth become
resources through human perception of potential uses. Earth resources are unevenly
distributed and unequally consumed. The consumption of resources may convert them
into irretrievable forms or into substances dangerously harmful to living organisms.
Recycling of industrial production and ecologically balanced agricultural production
are means of maintaining sustained yields from resources. All these aspects should be
taken into account, while dealing with the concepts of environmental education.
Environmental Awareness
Unlike traditional forms of education, Environmental Education is a holistic. It is a
lifelong learning process directed at creating responsible individuals who explore and
identify environmental issues, engage in problem solving, and take action effectively
to improve the environment. As a result, such individuals develop a deeper
awareness and understanding of environmental issues. This also helps to resolute
many environmental challenges. Environmental awareness is to understand the
fragility of our environment and the importance of its protection. Environmental
Awareness covers the following aspects:
1. The complex inter-relationship between man and his total human impact on
environment.
2. Achievement of knowledge, abilities and skills related to solving environmental
problems.
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3. A personal commitment and acceptance of responsibility for population, nature,
nutrition and health, Ecological balance, pollution, foresting, landuse Environmental
conservation and willingness to cooperate with others to meet the ends.
4. A concern for the quality of life with all its variety of expressions.
5. Sensitivity towards environmental problems and willingness to get involved in the
national and international policies to solve the same.
Environmental awareness means that the environmental perspective is taken into
consideration in decision making and the selection of products and services. There are
some news ways too, to raise environmental awareness, like green blog, social
media, green club and eco forum. Environmental awareness is important for several
reasons. It fosters a sense of connection to the natural world, promotes sustainable
development and encourages conservation of irreplaceable natural resources and
vulnerable plant and animal species.
Environmental awareness essentially serves as an educational tool. It helps the people
around the world to understand the economic, aesthetic and biological importance of
preserving resources and reducing or eliminating the harmful impacts of man-made
alterations. Environmental awareness or education helps people understand the
consequences of human activities on various lands and identifies remedial solutions.
The Media also plays a dominant role in creating massive Environmental Awareness.
Environmental Management
Environmental management are options used to oversee the man's impact on the
environment. It is done through several management techniques. Management
techniques include the development of new technologies, environmental policies, and
sustainability measures. To help resolve some of the environmental issues, policy
makers, scientists, and government planners are looking for the most efficient ways to
use our natural resources with the least negative impact possible.
A major part of environmental management is devoted to the creation of
environmental policies to ensure various human activities do not negatively impact
the environment. Environmental policies are rules and regulations created by the
government to set standards that cannot be exceeded. These standards include
maximum allowable pollutant levels in water, air, and soils, which are determined
through extensive scientific observations and research.
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Conclusion
Environmental studies is an interdisciplinary subject examining the interplay between
the social, legal, management, and scientific aspects of environmental issues. The term
" interdisciplinary" means that issues are examined from multiple perspectives.
Unlike environmental science, which focuses mainly on the scientific component of
these environmental issues, environmental studies investigates the scientific and the
humanitarian aspects. Students of environmental studies learn the causes, effects, and
possible solutions to address important environmental problems.