Department of Environmental Science and Management

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course Name:
Introduction to Environmental Science

Course Code
ENV-107
& Section No:
Semester: Spring-2024

INSTRUCTOR & DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

1. Instructor: Armin Anwar

Initial: AAAR
2. Office Room SAC-713
3. Office Hours: RA: (12:00-4:00)PM

MW: (9:00-4:00) PM

4. Class Hours: 1 hour 15 minutes

5. Office Phone: (880-2) 55668200, Ext. 6731
6. Email Address: Armin.anwar@northsouth.edu
7. Department: Environmental Science and Management (ESM)

COURSE & SECTION INFORMATION

Course Not Applicable

Prerequisite(s)
Course Credit 3
Course This course focuses on training students with a broad understanding on
Description environmental issues of Bangladesh and its probable solution. The course will
include basic concepts of environment at various details limiting to the requirement
at the undergraduate level.
Course 1. Students will be able to define the environment and its components.
Objectives 2. Student will be able to describe available natural resources in Bangladesh as well
as their prospects and environmental problems
Students Course 1. Students will be able to identify and analyze different environmental problems.
Learning 2. Ability to provide some solutions to few environmental problems
Outcomes
(CLOs)
COURSE CONTENTS AND SCHEDULE

Week Class Topic Teaching- Assessment Corresponding

# Learning strategy CLOs
Strategy

1 1 Introductory lecture Lecture CLO-1

Fundamentals of
Environment

2 Fundamentals of Lecture CLO-1

Environment
Concepts of Ecology &
Ecosystem
2 3 Concepts of Ecology & Lecture CLO-1
Ecosystem
4 Concepts of Ecology & Lecture CLO-1
Ecosystem
3 5 Biodiversity Lecture CLO-1
6 Biodiversity Lecture CLO-1
4 7 Environmental Cycles Lecture Quiz-1 CLO-1
[Class 1-4] CLO-2
8 Environmental Cycles Lecture CLO-1
CLO-2
5 9 Group discussion on Group CLO-1
covered chapters discussion CLO-2
10 Midterm-1 Midterm-1 CLO-1
[Class 1-9] CLO-2

6 11 Human Environment Lecture CLO-1

CLO-2
12 Human Environment Lecture CLO-1
CLO-2
7 13 Human Environment Lecture CLO-1
CLO-2
14 Water and Soil Lecture CLO-1
CLO-2
8 15 Water and Soil Lecture Quiz-2 CLO-1
[Class 11- CLO-2
13]
16 Water and Soil Lecture CLO-1
CLO-2
9 Group discussion on Group CLO-1
17 class 11-16 Discussion CLO-2
18 Midterm-2 Midterm-2 CLO-1
[Class 11- CLO-2
17]
 10 19 Air Pollution & Climate Lecture CLO-1
Change CLO-2
20 Air Pollution & Climate Lecture CLO-1
Change CLO-2
11 21 Sustainable Lecture Quiz-3 CLO-1
Agriculture [Class 19- CLO-2
20]

22 Solid Waste Lecture CLO-1

Management CLO-2
12 23 Solid Waste Lecture CLO-1
Management CLO-2
24 Alternative Energy Lecture CLO-1
Resources CLO-2
13 25 Alternative Energy Lecture CLO-1
Resources CLO-2
26 Environmental Lecture CLO-1
Research and CLO-2
Organizations
14 27 Presentation of Demonstration Presentation CLO-1
project/assignment CLO-2
28 Presentation of Demonstration Presentation CLO-1
project/assignment CLO-2
15 29 Review and discussion Discussion CLO-1
on final exam CLO-2
Final [Class
19-26]
N.B. *Course instructor may readjust the course plan based on requirements.

ASSESSMENT STRATEGY AND GRADING SCHEME

Grading tool Points/marks
Midterm Exam (Average of two midterms) 30
Final Exam 30
Class Quiz (three quizzes. Best two quizzes can be
15
considered)
Assignment/Short essay on environmental
problems and probable solution (word limit-not
15
more than 1000 words) and group presentation of
the report [Report + Presentation=7.5+7.5]
10
10 –Above 95% attendance➔ (27-28) classes
8- (90-95)% attendance➔ (25-26) classes
Class Attendance 6-(80-90)% attendance➔(23-24) classes
4-(70-80)% attendance➔ (21-22) classes
2-Below 70% attendance➔ (19-20) classes
0- Less than 19 classes
Total 100
N.B. *Course instructor may readjust marks distribution of quizzes, assignment and attendance and/or add
other assessment tools e.g. field trip report, class performance etc
EXAM FORMAT*
Format Midterm Exam
-Mix of broad and short questions and MCQs
-Duration – 60-70 minutes

Format Final Exam

Syllabus: Lecture 17-21
- Mix of broad and short questions, MCQs are optional
-Duration – 60-120 minutes

Other Resources

PPT Slides, Notes, and Case Articles: Available at CANVAS platform

Other Reference Materials: Instructor will provide in class as needed.

Class Performance and Attendance

Every student is expected to attend every class. However just attending the class will not earn class
performance points. Students have to actively participate during discussion sessions to earn
participation points. Students are also required to finish all in class assignments/ presentations to earn
class performance points.

Exams
Makeup exam is highly discouraged. However, if anyone misses any exam due to special
circumstances (mainly severe sickness) s/he should submit medical certificates to the course
instructor. If found genuine, a makeup exam may be arranged. If any of the class tests or midterm
exams cannot be held on the due date, the exam will be rescheduled for the next available class.

Due Date Policy

Every individual assignment is due on the exact due date. Failure to meet a deadline will cause you to
lose of significant points.

Classroom Rules of Conduct

● Cell phones must be switched off or in silent mode.
● Cell phones will not be allowed during exams.
● Show respect to your course instructor and to your peers.
● Do not miss deadlines. All your hard work could mean nothing if you are not serious about due
dates.
● Cheating in any form will result in a “Fail” grade.

Grading Scale
NSU standard grading scale will be followed.

Final Comments
Please understand that your instructor is here to help you, to be with you, and to walk you through the
difficult steps as long as you co-operate. The instructor of this course will be available for all of you. Feel
free to stop by when something bothers you and we will try our level best to help you out. You may
contact me through email, SMS, or by making an appointment in addition to the office hours mentioned
in this outline.

General Guidelines to Complete and Submit Assignments (if any)

Dear Students,
In this document, I am pointing out some guidelines that are mandatory for any assignment.
PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY!!
1. Try to understand the requirements of an assignment. Plan your answer and write it down. Finally,
you must type your answers in Word format using MS-Word.
2. Please do your work all by yourself. SELF-DISCRETION is very important during your life in NSU and
afterwards. Similarities in the assignments are not allowed i.e. sentence structures, answers
format, etc. Similarities are called PLAGIARISM and it is a serious crime in an educational
institution.

Please submit your assignments that contain your OWN WORDS. PLEASE DO NOT COPY
3. PUNCTUALITY is a weapon for a successful life. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR ASSIGNMENTS BY
DEADLINE. Submissions after the deadline will be eligible for mark deductions.
That is all from my side. Now I am expecting good gestures from you. If you have any queries, do not
hesitate to contact me.

*Course Details
(1) Basic Concepts
Scope of environment, Basic components of environment, Concept of Environmental Science- its inter-
and multi-disciplinary nature, Importance of Environmental Science, Science as a way of knowing, Six
key themes of Environmental Science, Human-environment interaction, Sustainability and carrying
capacity, Environmental pollution, Environmental degradation, Sustainable yield, Placing a value on the
environment (six values), GAIA Hypothesis, Ecological footprint, Classification of resources,
Environmental ethics and environmentalism, Major environmental issues.

(2) Fundamental Concepts of Ecology and Biodiversity

Ecology, Ecosystem, Ecosystems and its components (biotic and abiotic), Trophic levels, Ecological
communities, food chains and food web, Material and energy flow, Ecological succession (primary and
secondary), Biodiversity and its importance, Biological diversity basics (genetic, habitat and species),
Key processes of biological evolution (mutation, natural selection, migration and genetic drift), Various
types of species (native, ubiquitous, endemic, cosmopolitan, non-native, exotic, invasive, indicator,
keystone), Interaction between species (competition, symbiosis, predation-parasitism), Biodiversity
hotspot, Threats to biodiversity (e.g., IUCN Red list category)

(3) Environmental Cycles

Concepts of environmental cycle, Hydrologic cycle, Tectonic cycle, General aspects of biogeochemical
systems (flow, flux, resistance time, source and sink), Carbon cycle, Nitrogen cycle

(4) Human Population and Environment

Population distribution in the world, Useful human population terms (birth rate, death rate, growth rate,
crude birth rate, crude death rate, mortality, morbidity, total fertility rate, life expectancy, maximum life
time, cause specific mortality rate, case fatality rate), Basic components of population dynamics,
Population pyramid (age structure, dependency ratio), Demographic transition, Population forecasting
and calculation, Overpopulation- causes and impacts, Projecting future population growth (exponential
and logistic growth; doubling time) Population control.

(5) Water and Soil Environment

Global water availability, Human water need or role of water, Global water usage, Water pollution-
facts, figures and statistics, Types, effects and sources of water pollution: points and non-point sources,
Water quality parameter (physical, chemical, biological), 8 major categories of water pollutants,
Groundwater pollution, sources and impacts, Importance of soil environment, Soil pollution- causes
and effects, Soil erosion, Soil conservation.
(6) Air and Climate
Structure of the Atmosphere, Composition of Atmosphere, Sources of Pollution (Stationary and mobile
sources), Stationary sources (Point sources, Fugitive sources and Area sources), Pollutants: Primary,
secondary, Major primary and secondary pollutants produced by human activity and formed naturally,
Criteria Air Pollutants (like Aerosols, Particulate Matters), Stratospheric Ozone and Ozone layer
depletion, Indoor Air Pollution (Types and sources) and Impact of Indoor Pollution, Effects of Air
Pollution, Acid Rain, effects of acid rain, smog (Photochemical and Industrial Smog), Prevention and
Control of Air Pollution, Bangladesh Scenario: Rural vs. Urban, Definition of Climate and Weather, Global
Warming, The causes of Global Warming: Natural Causes and Anthropogenic Causes, The Greenhouse
Effect, The different Greenhouse Gases, Sources of Greenhouse Gases, Annual Greenhouse Gas Emission
by Sector, Greenhouse Gas is increasing, Difference between Global Warming and Climate Change,
Effects of Global Warming: Following in details, Climate change and Bangladesh, Possible Impacts of
climate change in Bangladesh, Dealing with the Climate Change Solutions (Mitigation and Adaptation),
Simple things to do at home.

(7) Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture, Components of sustainable agriculture (soil management, water management
and IPM), Soil management (conventional and modern agriculture, contour ploughing, polyculture vs
mono-culture, contour ploughing), Water management (ground water withdrawal, drawbacks of over-
withdrawal, efficient water management), Integrated pest management (pest, pest control measures-
organic and chemical).

(8) Solid Waste Management

Definition and classification of solid wastes, Composition of solid waste: Global and Bangladesh
perspective, Integrated waste management (3Rs, composting, incineration, sanitary landfill)

(9) Alternative Energy Resources

Major Sources of Energy Do We Use, World Major consumption type by fuel, Energy Resources:
Renewable and Non Renewable (Definition and Examples), Fossil Fuel, World Fuel Resources, Fossil
Fuel Formation (it will cover formation of coal, gas and oil), Advantages and Disadvantages of Fossil
Fuels, Advantages and disadvantages of Conventional Oil, Advantages and disadvantages of Natural Gas,
Advantages and disadvantages of Coal, Nuclear Energy: What is it and why the use is limited, Advantages
and disadvantages of Nuclear Fuel cycle, Renewable Energy: Solar Energy, Hydropower, wind power,
Geothermal Energy, Ocean currents

(10) Environmental Research and Organizations

International organizations (IPCC, UNEP, FAO, WHO, IUCN, ICIMOD, ICDDRB); National organizations
(BFRI, BELA, BAPA, BWDB, MOEF, DOE, IWM, CEGIS, SEHD)

Learning Materials
Books/Book Chapter

1. Daniel B. Botkin and Edward A. Keller. 2000. Environmental Science: Earth as a living planet.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
2. NRC 1999. Perspectives on biodiversity: valuing its role in an ever-changing world. Washington,
DC: National Academy Press. 129 p.

Reports

1. Global Footprint Network Educational Resources

2. Wackernagel M., Beyers B. 2019. Ecological footprint: Ecological Footprint: Managing Our
Biocapacity Budget. New Society Publishers, ISBN: 9780865719118, 288p]
3. https://www.footprintnetwork.org/resources/educational-resources/
 4. Protected Areas of Bangladesh: http://www.bforest.gov.bd
5. Biodiversity (current status): http://www.bforest.gov.bd/
6. Ecologically Critical Area: http://doe.portal.gov.bd/sites

Journals

1. Burkhard B., Muller F. 2008. Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response. In: Ecological Indicators.

Vol. [2] of Encyclopedia of Ecology, 5 vols. Publisher: Oxford Elsevier Editors: Sven Erik
Jorgensen, Brian D. Fath.

************Besides, References and resources will be suggested in each class.