Course objectives
- To create awareness about the environment, natural resources, and ecological balance 2. To understand the causes, effects, and control of environmental pollution 3. To understand the concept of sustainable development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4. To understand climate change, renewable energy, and the engineer's role in sustainability 5. To encourage students to adopt simple sustainable practices and environmental responsibility
Course content
Unit Description Hours
Unit I
Environment and Ecosystems: Environment — definition, components (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere); ecosystem — structure and function; food chain, food web, energy flow (basic 6 hrs concept); biodiversity — meaning, importance, and threats; need for conservation. Awareness focus: local ecosystems and why they matter.
Unit II
Natural Resources and their Conservation: Renewable and non-renewable resources; water resources — scarcity and conservation; forest and land resources; energy resources (brief); over-exploitation of resources; 6 hrs the concept of the 3 R's — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; rainwater harvesting (concept). Awareness focus: simple resource-saving practices in daily life.
Unit III
Environmental Pollution: Air pollution — causes, effects, control (basic); water pollution — sources, effects, prevention; soil pollution; noise pollution; solid waste 6 hrs management — segregation, composting, recycling; e- waste and plastic waste (awareness). Awareness focus: pollution in the student's own city/campus and how to reduce it.