Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies
Intended
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this session, students will be able to
• Acquire knowledge about Environment, Environmental Science
and related terms
• Discuss scope and importance
• Explain the need for public awareness
• Cite the different types of resources
• Discuss Environmental problems
Contents
• Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies
• Scope and importance
• Need for public awareness
Definitions
Environmental science
(or studies)
Interdisciplinary studies in natural sciences, including
geology, climatology, hydrology, ecology and their interaction with social
sciences such as economics, political science, sociology, anthropology and
geography
• Ecology
Study of the interactions between organisms and between
organisms and their environment
• Ecosystem
Includes all organisms living in an area and the physical
environment with which these organisms interact
ENVIRONMENT
Environment is French word “Environner”, which mean to encircle
or surround
Abiotic Environment
Air
Water
Soil
Material
Biotic Environment
Plant
Animal
Microbes
The multidisciplinary
nature of environmental science is illustrated in following
Basic and Applied Studies
•
Physical Science, (Physics, chemistry, Earth
science, Atmospheric Science)
•
Life Science (Biology, biochemistry,
Microbiology etc)
Technology
•
Civil, Chemical, Hydraulics, Nano
Management and Awareness
•
Economics, Sociology, Law, Education,
Management, Mass-communication
Modeling
•
Mathematics, Statistics, Computer science
Importance
of Environment Studies
• Environment is not a single subject. It is an integration
of several subjects that include both Science and Social Studies
• Thus the scope of environmental studies is extremely wide
and covers some aspects of nearly every major discipline
• Daily lives of humans are linked with their surroundings
and inevitably affects them
• Environment issues being by explosive increase in
pollution, hence
• Need for an alternative solution
• Need to save humanity from extinction
• Need for wise planning of development
Environment studies have become significant for the
following reasons:
• Preservation: Every natural resource/ ecosystem must be
preserved and protected to maintain a balance in the environment
• Global phenomena: Issues pertaining to the environment are
faced by every country in the event of any major development. a new set of
problems crop up in the wake of development
• Uncontrolled Increase in pollution: Rapid
industrialization and urbanization has led to pollution of various components
of the environment
• Sustainable development: There is a need to search for
solutions to development with minimal harm to the environment
Major
environmental concerns
Cause:
• Over exploitation of natural resources
– Forest
– Water
– Food
– Energy
– Land
• Environmental Pollution
– Air
– Water
– Land
• Population
Effect:
• Disease
• Water Shortages
• Water Contamination
• Climate Change
• Biodiversity Loss
• Poverty
• Malnutrition
Cause:
Deforestation
Effect:
Soil erosion
Our
Greatest Environmental Problem?????
• Diseases
• Overpopulation
• Water Shortages
• Climate Changes
• Poverty
• Malnutrition
Scope of
Environmental Studies:
Environmental Studies encompasses large number of areas
which mainly include:
• Natural Resource-
Conservation and Management
• Ecology and
Biodiversity
• Environment
Pollution and Control
• Economic
development and associate socio-cultural issues
• Human population
and environment
• It can also
include highly specialized issues like Environmental Science, Environmental
Engineering and Environmental Management
Importance
of Environment studies:
Environmental studies
have become significant for the following reason:
Environment Issues
being of International Importance: environmental issues such as global
warming, ozone depletion, biodiversity loss, marine pollution etc have a global
implication
Problems Cropped in
The Wake of Development: rapid development in the selected area leads to
Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Transportation Systems, Agriculture and
Housing etc which in turn leads to environmental pollution
Rapid increase in
Population: rapid growth of human population resulted into tremendous increase in the demand of
resources such as food resources, energy resources ultimately leading to the
environmental degradation
Need for An
Alternative Solution: recently there is a sense of feeling that current way
of economic development is not feasible for long term as resources base is not
unlimited giving rise to the concept of sustainable development
Need to Save Humanity
from Extinction: There is a grave threat on humanity due to continuous
degradation of its resource base which has implication on survival and well-being
of human society
Need for
Public Awareness
• As the earth’s natural resources are dwindling and our
environment is being increasingly degraded by human activities, there is a need
for action
• Prevention of environment degradation must become a major
goal for all
• Decrease of harm on our environment. It is economically
more viable than cleaning up the environment once it is damaged
• Reduction of natural resources wastage. Government should be informed of sources that
lead to pollution and degradation of our environment
• This can only be made possible through mass public
awareness
• Growing Population
• Poverty
• Agricultural Growth
• Need to improve Ground water
• Development and Forests
Solutions
• Current Emphasis (Reactive)
• Sustainability Emphasis (Proactive)
