BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE, PILANI

INSTRUCTION DIVISION
SECOND SEMESTER: 2018-2019
Course Handout (Part II)

In addition to part I (General Handout for all courses appended to the time table) this portion gives further s
pecific details regarding the course).

Course No. : BITS F225

Course Title : Environmental Studies
Instructor incharge : JUDITH BRAGANCA
Team of Instructors : Meenal Kowshik, Anasuya Ganguly, Dibakar Chakrabarty, Kundan Kumar
NN Ghosh, Halan Prakash, Rashmi Chauhan, Ranjan Dey, Amrita Chaterje
e, S D Manjare

1. Course content:
Environment, human population, and industrialization; natural resources and the impact of man- made activi
ties on them; structure and function of ecosystem, population ecology, biodiversity and its conservation, env
ironmental pollution, social issues and the environment, and environmental impact assessment.

2.Scope & Objective of the Course:

The need for sustainable development is a key to the future of mankind. Continuing problems of pollution,
solid waste disposal, degradation of environment, issues like economic productivity and national security, G
lobal warming, the depletion of ozone layer and loss of biodiversity have made everyone aware of environm
ental issues. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janerio in 19
92 and world Summit on Sustainable Development at Johannesburg in 2002 have drawn the attention of peo
ple around the globe to the deteriorating condition of our environment. It is clear that no citizen of the earth
can afford to be ignorant of environment issues. Environmental management has captured the attention of he
alth care managers. Managing environmental hazards has become very important.

3. Operational Modality of the Course

This Course is a mandatory requirement under the category (and sub-category) General Institutional Requir
ement (general Awareness / Professional Courses) for all First Degree programs. The Course will be offered
as a MOOC Course. Students registered in this Course will be required to complete the Modules within the
deadlines indicated below. Students will be awarded Non letter Grade Good/Poor. Student should have obtai
ned at least 15% or above to be eligible to get Grade (Good/Poor). Others will be given a NC Grade.22 Lect
ures of 60 minute duration will be uploaded on Moodle platform. Approximately first 10 Lectures will be co
nsidered for online Mid SemTest and the next 11 Lectures will be considered for the online End SemTest.

Textbook:

1. Erach Bharucha, Text book for Environmental Studies, University Grant Commission, New Delhi,
India, 2004.

Reference Books (RB):

1. Richard T. Wright, Dorothy F. Boorse, Gordon College, Environmental Science: Toward a
Sustainable Future, Twelfth Edition, 2014.
2. Gilbert M. Masters and Wendell P. Ella, Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Sciences,
PHI Learning Private Ltd., Third Edition, 2007.
3. Peter Stiling, Ecology Theories and Applications, Fourth Edition, Prentice Hall India.

4. Gilbert M. Masters and Wendell P. Ella, Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Sciences,
PHI Learning Private Ltd., Third Edition, 2007.
5. Barthwal R. R., Environmental Impact Assessment, New Age International Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi,
2002.
6. Rao, C. S., “Environmental Pollution Control Engineering”, New Age International (P) Ltd., New
Delhi, Revised Edition, 2006.
7. ISO 14000 Book

Course Content:
Modules Learning Objectives Topics to be covered Number of
Lectures
1 Introduction Introduction to Environmental Studies. (Dept. of 1
Biological Sciences)

2 Concept of Ecosystems, Structure of Ecosystems (food chains and webs), 3

Evolution and Biodiversity Global biomes and Climate, Energy and Material flow
in ecosystems, Biological Wealth and Value of
Species, Biodiversity Types and Hotspots, Decline of
Biodiversity, Protection of Biodiversity (Dept of
Biological Sciences)

3 Impact of Population and Moving Towards a Sustainable Future, Environmental 3

economic growth on the Public Policy, Politics and the Environment. Legal
environment Policy framework of Env Laws & regulations, Laws &
Standards of Clean Air Act (CAA) and Legal Aspects
of Solid Waste Management, Environment Impact
Assessment: Qualitative EIA.
(Dept of Economics)
4 Population Ecology Use of resources such as Water, Food and Energy 2
Sustainable Development Dynamics of natural populations (growth curves),
Mechanisms of Population Equilibrium (intra and
inter-species interactions), Evolution as a Force for
Change, Community Ecology, Ecosystem Responses
to Disturbance (ecological succession) (Dept of
Biological Sciences)

5 Environmental pollution Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Soil Pollution, Marine 3

Pollution, Noise Pollution, Thermal Pollution and
Nuclear Hazards (Dept of Chemistry)

6 Environmental Quality: Air Effects of air pollution (global warming, 3

and water Pollution photochemical smog, ozone hole depletion); Carbon
Capture Footprints, Carbon Sequestration Methods;
water quality parameters, water and wastewater
 treatment processes (Dept of Chemistry)

7 Technologies employed for Criteria pollutants, Non criteria pollutants, Air 2

air pollution control pollution meterology, Atmospheric Dispersion;
Mechanisms and equipments for separation of air
pollutants
(Dept of Chemical Engineering)
8 Solid waste management Integrated Management of Solid waste, Sources of 2
systems Solid Waste, Properties of Municipal Solid Waste
(MSW), Storage & Transport of MSW, Biological
MSW Treatment Techniques(Dept of Biological
Sciences)
9 ISO 14000 and Env Impact Various standards under ISO 14000 and EIA 2
Assessment (EIA) Methodology (Dept of Chemical Engineering)

Self Study References: Will be uploaded on Moodle

1. Evaluation Scheme:

S.No. Components Duration Weightage Remarks Date Time and Venue

(100%)
1. Mid Sem Test 30 min 35% Online 6/10/2018 (AN), CC Lab
2 Self Study Test 30 min 25% Online
2. Comprehensive 30 min 40% Online 30/11/2018 (AN), CC Lab
Exam

Make-Up Policy:

Make-Up may be granted in extremely genuine cases only.

Course Notices:

All notices will be displayed on Moodle and sent to student email accounts.

Dr. Judith M. Braganca

BITS F 225- Environmental Studies