1. INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENT AND
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

2. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

3. WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE?
The study of how humans interact with
their environment
Our environment is everything that
surrounds us, both natural and man-
made.

4. ENVIRONMENT: THE TOTAL OF OUR SURROUNDINGS
• All the things around us with which we interact:
• Living things
• Animals, plants, forests, fungi, etc.
• Nonliving things
• Continents, oceans, clouds, soil, rocks
• Our built environment
• Buildings, human-created living centers
• Social relationships and institutions

5. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
 Environmental Science:
Environmental science can be defined as the scientific study
of earth, air, water, living organism and the man with his impact
on environment.
 Environmental engineering:
Environmental engineering can be defined as the application
of engineering principles, to the protection and enhancement of
the quality of the environment, public heath and public welfare.
So, The environmental engineer plans, designs, constructs and
operate sewage treatment plant, water treatment plant, industrial
effluent treatment plant, air pollution control equipments etc.
 Environmental Studies:
It can be defined as the branch of study concerned with
environmental issues.

6. IMPORTANCE AND SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
STUDIES
 Environmental studies is a multidisciplinary subject. The information
gained through the study of various disciplines gives us a holistic
view of the environment for sustaining life on earth.
 Environmental studies is important because it deals with the most
basic or routine issues like,
Safe and clean drinking water, Hygienic living conditions, Clean and
fresh air, Fertile land, Healthy food, Sustainable development etc.
 Scope of Environmental Studies:
The scope of environmental studies is very broad and it includes a
large number of areas and aspects
 Natural Resources
 Ecology, ecosystem and biodiversity
 Environmental pollution and control
 Human population and environment
 Social issues related to development and environment

7. WHAT IS ENVIRONMENT???
 The word “Environment” is derived from the French
word “Environner” that means to encircle or surround.
 All the biological and non-biological things
surrounding an organism are thus included in
environment.
 Environment can be defined as:
External surroundings and conditions which directly or
indirectly affects the living organism.
 It can also be defined as:
Environment is sum total of water, air, land,
interrelationship among themselves and also with
human beings, other living organisms and property.

8. PARTS OF ENVIRONMENT
 The environment has two parts
 Biotic Part
 Abiotic Part
 Biotic Part:
Biotic part is made up of all living organisms which
includes
Plants, Animals, Birds, micro-organisms
 Abiotic Part:
It is the non-living components of environment which
includes
Light, Air, Water, Temperature, Humidity, Soil etc.

9. CATEGORIES OF ENVIRONMENT
The environment can be divided into two categories
1. Natural environment
2. Man-made environment

10. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
It is the environment gifted by God and is operated by
self regulation mechanism.
The natural environment comprises of 4 spheres:
1. Biosphere: Space occupied by life
2. Atmosphere: Space occupied by air
3. Lithosphere: Space occupied by solid
4. Hydrosphere: Space occupied by water

11. MAN-MADE ENVIRONMENT
It is the environment created by man through modifications
in natural environment for fulfilling their needs.
It also includes physical structures like:
Dams, canals
Roads
Vehicles
Power plants, industries
Buildings