Environmental Science and Disaster Management

Teacher

Dr. Dinkar J. Gaikwad

Category

Core Courses

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Course Name : Environmental Science and Disaster Management

Code(Credit) : ASES3101(2-1-0)

Course Objectives

Disciplinary knowledge: Enable students to develop a comprehensive understanding of various facets of life forms, ecological processes and how humans have impacted them during the Anthropocene era.
Critical thinking: Capability to identify relevant environmental issues, analyse the various underlying causes, evaluate the practices and policies, and develop framework to make informed decisions.
Moral and ethical awareness/reasoning: Develop empathy for various life forms and appreciate the various ecological linkages within the web of life.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will acquire knowledge about
• Understand the natural environment and its relationships with human activities.
• Characterize and analyze human impacts on the environment.
• Integrate facts, concepts, and methods from multiple disciplines and apply to environmental problems.
• Capacity to integrate knowledge and to analyse, evaluate and manage the different public health aspects of disaster events at a local and global levels.
• Capacity to obtain, analyse, and communicate information on risks, relief needs and lessons learned from earlier disasters in order to formulate strategies for mitigation in future scenarios.

Course Syllabus

Theory
Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies Definition, scope and importance.
Natural Resources: Renewable and non-renewable resources, Natural resources and associated problems. a) Forest resources: Use and over-exploitation, deforestation, case studies. Timber extraction, mining, dams and their effects on forest and tribal people. b) Water resources: Use and over-utilization of surface and ground water, floods, drought, conflicts over water, dams-benefits and problems. c) Mineral resources: Use and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and using mineral resources, case studies. d) Food resources: World food problems, changes caused by agriculture and overgrazing, effects of modern agriculture, fertilizer-pesticide problems, water logging, salinity, case studies. e) Energy resources: Growing energy needs, renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources. Case studies. f) Land resources: Land as a resource, land degradation, man induced landslides, soil erosion and desertification. • Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources. • Equitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles. Ecosystems: Concept of an ecosystem, Structure and function of an ecosystem, Producers, consumers and decomposers, Energy flow in the ecosystem. Ecological succession, Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids. Introduction, types, characteristic features, structure and function of the following ecosystem: a. Forest ecosystem b. Grassland ecosystem c. Desert ecosystem d. Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries) Biodiversity and its conservation: - Introduction, definition, genetic, species & ecosystem diversity and biogeographical classification of India. Value of biodiversity: consumptive use, productive use, social, ethical, aesthetic and option values. Biodiversity at global, National and local levels, India as a mega-diversity nation.Hot-sports of biodiversity. Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts. Endangered and endemic species of India. Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity. Environmental Pollution: definition, cause, effects and control measures of: a. Air pollution b. Water pollution c. Soil pollution d. Marine pollution e. Noise pollution f. Thermal pollution g. Nuclear hazards. Solid Waste Management: causes, effects and control measures of urban and industrial wastes. Role of an individual in prevention of pollution. Social Issues and the Environment: From Unsustainable to Sustainable development, Urban problems related to energy, Water conservation, rain water harvesting, watershed management. Environmental ethics: Issues and possible solutions, climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, nuclear accidents and holocaust. dies. Wasteland reclamation.Consumerism and waste products. Environment Protection Act.Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act.Wildlife Protection Act.Forest Conservation Act. Issues involved in enforcement of environmental legislation. Public awareness Human Population and the Environment: population growth, variation among nations, population explosion, Family Welfare Programme. Environment and human health: Human Rights, Value Education, HIV/AIDS. Women and Child Welfare.Role of Information Technology in Environment and human health.
Disaster management
Natural Disasters- Meaning and nature of natural disasters, their types and effects. Floods, drought, cyclone, earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, volcanic eruptions, Heat and cold waves, Climatic hange: global warming, Sea level rise, ozone depletion. Man Made Disasters- Nuclear disasters, chemical disasters, biological disasters, building fire, coal fire, forest fire, oil fire, air pollution, water pollution, deforestation, industrial waste water pollution, road accidents, rail accidents, air accidents, sea accidents. Disaster Management- Effect to migrate natural disaster at national and global levels. International strategy for disaster reduction. Concept of disaster management, national disaster management framework; financial arrangements; role of NGOs, community –based organizations and media.Central, state, district and local administration; Armed forces in disaster response; Disaster response; Police and other organizations.
Practical

Pollution case studies. Case Studies- Field work: Visit to a local area to document environmental assets river/ forest/ grassland/ hill/ mountain, visit to a local polluted site- Urban/Rural/Industrial/Agricultural, study of common plants, insects, birds and study of simple ecosystems-pond, river, hill slopes, etc.
References

1. Bharucha, E. 2005. Text book of Environmental Studies for undergraduate courses. University
Grants Commission, New Delhi.
2. Anjaneyalu, Y. 2004. Introduction to Environmental Science, BS Publications, Hyderabad,
A.P.,India.

Session Plan

Session 01

Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies Definition, scope and importance. Natural Resources: Renewable and non-renewable resources, Natural resources and associated problems. a) Forest resources: Use and over-exploitation, deforestation, case studies. Timber extraction, mining, dams and their effects on forest and tribal people. b) Water resources:

PPT: Lecture 01

Video: Introduction to Environmental Science

Video: Natural Resources

Practical: Determination of total hardness by EDTA method

Video:Determination of Hardness of water by EDTA Method

Session 02

Use and over-utilization of surface and ground water, floods, drought, conflicts over water, dams-benefits and problems. c) Mineral resources: Use and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and using mineral resources, case studies. d) Food resources

PPT: Lecture 02

Video: RENEWABLE vs NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES

Practical: Determination of total alkalinity in a given sample of water
Video: Determining the Alkalinity and constituents in water sample using methyl orange indicator.

Session 03

Land resources: Land as a resource, land degradation, man induced landslides, soil erosion and desertification. • Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources. Equitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles.

PPT: Lecture 03

Video: Land degradation

Video: Causes, Effects and Solutions of Desertification of Land - an overview

Practical: Determination of the total dissolved solids in supplied water.
Video: To determine the total dissolved solids in water sample

Session 04

Forest resources: Use and over-exploitation, deforestation, case studies. Timber extraction, mining, dams and their effects on forest and tribal people.
PPT: Lecture 04
Video: Forest Resources and its conservation
Practical: Determination of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) present in a given water sample.
Video: Determination of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) by Winkler method

Session 05

Mineral resources: Use and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and using mineral resources, case studies.

PPT: Lecture 05
Video: Mineral resource in India

Practical:
Determination of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of a waste water sample.
Video: Determination of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of a waste water sample.

Session 06

Ecosystems: Concept of an ecosystem, Structure and function of an ecosystem, Producers, consumers and decomposers,

PPT: Lecture 06
Video: Ecosystem and its types

Practical: Determination of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of a waste water sample.
Video: Determination of COD in waste water

Session 07

Producers, consumers and decomposers, Energy flow in the ecosystem. Ecological succession, Food chains,
PPT: Lecture 07
Video: Food Chains

Practical: Determination of pH water sample.
Video: Digital pH Meter Calibration and Working by Solution

Session 08

food webs and ecological pyramids. Introduction, types, characteristic features, structure and function of the ecosystem:

PPT: Lecture 08
Video: Food Webs and Energy Pyramids

Practical: Determination of electrical conductivity of given water sample
Video: Determination of Electrical conductivity in wastewater

Session 09

Forest ecosystem b. Grassland ecosystem c. Desert ecosystem d. Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries)
PPT: Lecture 09
Video: Types of ecosystem

Practical: Determination of pH of a soil sample.
Video: To determine pH of Soil

Session 10

Biodiversity and its conservation: - Introduction, definition, genetic, species & ecosystem diversity and biogeographical classification of India. Value of biodiversity: consumptive use, productive use, social, ethical, aesthetic and option values.
PPT: Lecture 10
Video: What is Biodiversity
Video: Why is biodiversity so important

Practical: Determination of electrical conductivity of a soil sample.
Video: To determine the conductivity of soil sample

Session 11

Environmental Pollution: definition, cause, effects and control measures of: a. Air pollution b. Water pollution c. Soil pollution
PPT: Lecture 11
Video: Air Pollution : Meaning , Causes , Effects and Control Measures
Video: Noise Pollution : Meaning , Causes , Effects and Control Measures
Video: Water Pollution : Meaning , Causes , Effects and Control Measures

Practical: Determination of percentage of Chlorine in sewage water
Video: Determination of percentage of Chlorine in sewage water

Session 12

Marine pollution e. Noise pollution f. Thermal pollution g. Nuclear hazards. Solid Waste Management: causes, effects and control measures of urban and industrial wastes. Role of an individual in prevention of pollution.
PPT: Lecture 12
Video: How We Can Keep Plastics Out of Our Ocean
Video: Harmful Effects Of Thermal Pollution
Video: Solid Waste Management -
Practical: Determination of Noise level
Video: Determination of Noise level

Session 13

Water conservation, rain water harvesting, watershed management. Environmental ethics: Issues and possible solutions, climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion,
PPT: Lecture 13
Video: Rainwater Resources™ Rainwater Harvesting Process
Video: Watershed Management - Importance and Challenges
Video: Causes and Effects of Climate Change
Video: The Difference Between Global Warming & Climate Change
Video: Acid rain
Video: Ozone Depletion

Practical: Determination of Air quality analysis
Video: Determination of Air quality analysis

Session 14

Family Welfare Programme. Environment and human health: Human Rights, Value Education, HIV/AIDS. Women and Child Welfare.
PPT: Lecture 14

Video: Family Welfare Programme
Video: Environment and Public Health

Session 15

Role of Information Technology in Environment and human health.
PPT: Lecture 15
Video: Role of IT in environmental and human health

Session 16

Disaster management
Natural Disasters- Meaning and nature of natural disasters, their types and effects. Floods, drought, cyclone, earthquakes

PPT: Lecture 16

Video: Disasters - Types and Effects
Video: Landslides and Earthquakes

Session 17

Natural Disasters
cyclone, Floods, drought,landslides, avalanches, volcanic eruptions, Heat and cold waves,

PPT: Lecture 17
Video: Disaster Management Cyclone
Video: Drought and Agriculture - Predict, Plan and Prepare

Video: Flood A Natural Disaster

Session 18

Man Made Disasters- Nuclear disasters, chemical disasters, biological disasters, building fire, coal fire, forest fire, oil fire, air pollution, water pollution, deforestation, industrial waste water pollution, road accidents, rail accidents, air accidents, sea accidents.
PPT: Lecture 18

Video: The World's Worst Nuclear Disaster - Facts & Overview of Accidents
Video: Biological Disasters
Video: Drone based Forest Fire Prevention Technology
Video: Fire Protection Systems: Building Codes and Safety Standards

Session 19

Disaster Management- Effect to migrate natural disaster at national and global levels. International strategy for disaster reduction. Concept of disaster management, national disaster management framework; financial arrangements

PPT: Lecture 19
Video: Climate Change, Disasters and Refugees - Talking Points
Video: Integrated Approach to Disaster Risk Management:Prevent, Residual risk Prepare, Respond, Recover

Session 20

Concept of disaster management, national disaster management framework; financial arrangements; role of NGOs, community –based organizations and media.Central, state, district and local administration; Armed forces in disaster response; Disaster response; Police and other organizations.
PPT: Lecture 20
Video: NGO role in disaster management
Video: Role of Government in Disaster Relief

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    Dr. Dinkar J. Gaikwad is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Physiology, M.S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Paralakhemundi Campus, Centurion University of Technology and Management Odisha, India. He has completed his Under Graduation (UG) in Bachelor in Horticulture from MPKV Rahuri (Maharashtra), Post Graduation in Plant Physiology from BCKV Mohanpur (West Bengal). His […]