L T P J C

CHY1702 Environmental Sciences 3 0 0 0 3

Version No.
Course None
Prerequisites
Objectives:
1. To make students understand and appreciate the unity of life in all its forms, the
implications of life style on the environment.
2. To understand the various causes for environmental degradation.
3. To understand individuals contribution in the environmental pollution.
4. To understand the impact of pollution at the global level and also in the local
environment
Expected Outcomes:
Students will be able to
1. Understand the need for eco-balance.
2. Acquire basic knowledge about global climate change with a particular reference to the
Indian context.
3. Find ways to protect the environment and play pro-active roles
Title Hours SLO
Module-1 Environment and Ecosystem 8 1, 5, 12,14
Key environmental problems, their basic causes and
sustainable solutions. IPAT equation. Ecosystem,
earth – life support system and ecosystem
components; Food chain, food web, Energy flow in
ecosystem; Ecological succession- stages involved,
Primary and secondary succession, Hydrarch,
mesarch, xerarch; Nutrient, water, carbon, nitrogen,
cycles; Effect of human activities on these cycles.
Module-2 Biodiversity 8 1,5,11,
Importance, types, mega-biodiversity; Species 12,15
interaction - Extinct, endemic, endangered and rare
species; Hot-spots; GM crops- Advantages and
disadvantages; Terrestrial biodiversity and Aquatic
biodiversity – Significance, Threats due to natural
and anthropogenic activities and Conservation
methods.

Module-3 Sustaining Natural Resources and 8

Environmental Quality 11,2,3,5,8,12,
Environmental hazards – causes and solutions. 113,14,20
Biological hazards – AIDS, Malaria, Chemical
hazards- BPA, PCB, Phthalates, Mercury, Nuclear
hazards- Risk and evaluation of hazards. Water
footprint; virtual water, blue revolution. Water
quality management and its conservation. Solid and
hazardous waste – types and waste management
methods. Climate disruption and ozone depletion
(Kyoto protocol, carbon credits, Carbon
sequestration methods and Montreal Protocol – can
be discussed).
 Module-4 Energy Resources 7
Renewable - Non renewable energy resources- 2,3,4,8,11,12,
Advantages and disadvantages - oil, Natural gas, 13,16
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.
Module-5 Environmental Impact Assessment 7 1, 2, 9,17,19
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.

Module-6 Human Population Change and Environment - 7 2,11,16,17,19,

Guest Lecture 20.
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.
Field Work:
1. Morphometry of the pond
2. Measurement of Physico- Chemical Factors of an ecosystem.
3. Biotic Factors: Producers, Consumers and decomposers.
4. Visit to a polluted area and prepare a detailed report.
5. Visit an effluent treatment plant and understand the treatment process.
6. Quality of water and extent of pollution in and around hospitals.
7. Trends observed in literacy rate modifications for the past 20 years.
8. Necessity for Equal rights for women in India.
9. Child labour and its impact on the society.
10. Roadside restaurants and health hazards.
11. Water scarcity and measures.
12. Rapid change in climate and its cause.
13. Investigations on local Palar River Water streams and their watersheds
14. Collect the samples in tanneries waste - located on banks of Palar River and list out the
associated environmental risks.
15. Cement ash in air at (Old Katpadi) residential area and risks to human health
16. Bioremediation of nitrate and fluoride in groundwater
17. Cyclone hazards – use of web-GIS to map roadside/site ditches to prevent flooding.
18. Use of biochemical assays to investigate chemical contamination in household
products
19. Modeling of Environmental Systems
20. Determine the pH of soil in VIT campus and list out the remedial measures.
21. Investigations on E-waste
Quality assessment of packaged foods.
Textbooks
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.

Recommended by the board of studies : Recommended on 11th June 2015.

Date of approval by the Academic Council: 16.6.2015

Case Studies:

1. Chromium in Groundwater of Vellore District

2. Alternative Fuel Vehicles

3. The Waste-To-Energy Option for Managing Domestic Trash

4. Drought in the Southwest Tamil Nadu

5. Nepal Earthquake Disaster 2015

6. Pollutions at public gatherings

7. Geological Storage of Nuclear Waste in India

8. Asian Tsunami 2004

9. Coal-bed methane projects

10. Land Acquisition Acts vs Farmers

11. Water on Mars: The Search for Life

12. Human Intervention on Wildlife Corridors

13. Sustainable Energy issues in both developed and developing countries

14. Social Security Issues in Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant

15. Population and need for cheap infectious disease surveillance tools

16. Chennai flood 2015