All the biological (e.g. plants, animals, microbes) and non-biological (e.g.

air,
water, soil, material) things surrounding an organism are thus included in
environment.

The multi-disciplinary nature of environmental studies

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field and requires the study of
interactions among the physical, chemical and biological aspects of the
Environment with a focus on environmental pollution and degradation.
Environmental Studies is a multi-disciplinary subject where different aspects
are dealt with in a holistic approach.

In order to study environment one needs knowledge inputs from various

disciplines.

 Life Sciences including Botany, Zoology, Microbiology, Genetics,

Biochemistry and Biotechnology help in understanding the biotic
component and their interactions.
 The physical and chemical structure of the abiotic components, and
energy transfer and flow are understood with the basic concepts of
Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Atmospheric Science, Oceanography and
Geography.
 Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science serve as effective tools in
environmental studies.

Scope of Environmental Studies

The scope of the term environment has been changing and widening by the
passage of time. In the primitive age, the environment consisted of only
physical aspects of the planet earth i.e., land, water and air as biological
communities. As of now, it includes social, economic and political conditions
also. The answer for the question where surrounded is in nature that physical
component of the planet earth, viz land, air, water, etc., support and affect life in
the biosphere.