Environmental studies is called as a topic which is multidisciplinary in nature as it includes studies of multiple topics in order to understand it in a much more better end more explained and detailed manner.

2. Content
• What is environmental studies
• Major fields of environmental Studies
• Environmental studies -a multidisciplinary academic field
• Example
• Summary

3. What is Environmental Studies?
Environmental Studies is a multidisciplinary academic field which
systematically studies human interaction with the environment.
Environmental studies connects principles from the physical sciences,
commerce/economics, the humanities [1], and social sciences to address
complex contemporary environmental issues. So, Environmental Studies can
be defined as-
“Environmental studies is a process that allows individuals to explore
environment’s interaction with humans, explore environmental issues, engage
in problem solving, and take action to improve the environment. ”

4. MajorFieldsof Environment Studies
Environmental studies can be sub-divided majorly into 3 fields-
Environmental Science Environmental Engineering Environmental Management
It deals with the
scientific study of
environmental systems
(land, air and water),
inherent induced
changes on organisms
and the environmental
damages incurred as a
result of human
interaction with the
environment
It deals with the study of
technical processes
involved in the
protection of
environment from the
potentially deleterious
effects of human activity
and improving the
environmental quality
for the health and well-
being of humans
It promotes due regard
from physical, social and
economic environment of
the enterprise or
projects. It encourages
planned investment at
the start of the
production chain rather
than forced investment in
cleaning up at the end.

5. Why Environmental Studies is multidisciplinaryin
Nature
The science of Environment studies is a multidisciplinary science because it
depends on various disciplines like chemistry, physics, medical science, etc. It is
the science of physical phenomena in the
environment. It is inherently a
multidisciplinary field that draws
upon not only its core scientific
areas, but also applies knowledge
from other non-scientific studies such
as economic, law and social science

6. Because, the environment is complex and actually made up of many different
environments, including natural, constructed and cultural environments,
environmental studies is the inter disciplinary examination of how biology,
geology, politics policy studies, law, geology, religion engineering, chemistry
and economics combine to inform the consideration of humanity’s effects on
the natural world.
So, almost all of the disciplines are used in environmental studies, if not fully
then at least some part of them is used in studying the complex environment.
All the disciplines are used in the study of environment in either of the 3 major
fields of environmental studies.

7. For the example purpose lets just take up a small and simple issue of
environmental studies, air pollution. As we all know that air pollution is a topic
which we as students have studied from very junior classes, we know the
reason for it, it’s preventive measures etc. but, it in itself includes study of a
wide range of disciplines.
The given Table shows a list of topics dealt commonly in air pollution and the
related traditional fields of knowledge required

8. Environmental issues/ topics Major topic/ subject
knowledge required
1) Nature and reaction of air pollutants Chemistry and Chemical engineering
2) Effects of air pollutants on human beings,
animal and plants
Zoology and botany and various branches of life
science. Physics and Chemistry
3) Effect of air pollutants on materials Meteorology,Thermodynamics, Geography
4) Effect of climate on air pollution Mathematical modeling, etc.
5) Air pollution control devices Physics, chemistry and various branches of
Engineering
6) History of air pollution and air pollution
episodes
History
7) Economic impacts of air pollution Economics, Demography
8) Sociological impacts of air pollution Sociology
9) Alternative fuels Various branches of physical sciences
10) Conservation of resources and pollution
control
Various branches of physical and political
sciences

9. In the above table, it can be clearly seen that a simple topic of air pollution
includes such a wide range of disciplines and, environmental studies covers
numerous topics of such kind. So it wont be wrong to say that environmental
studies is multidisciplinary in nature. The given diagram shows few of
disciplines and how they are used in environmental studies.

10. Summary
• Environment is defined as- “The sum total of water, air and land and
the interrelationship that exist among them and with the human
beings, other living organisms and materials.”
• Environmental studies can be divided into 3 major fields- Environmental
Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management.
• The environment is not a single subject. It’s study requires
understanding of several disciplines. Due to this it is said that
environmental studies in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary in
nature