IT AND ENVIRONMENT

CYBER PRESENCE

• Cyber presence is the way an individual and /or organization present itself with in the cyber
domain i.e. internet.
• It is important to actively participate in cyber domain.
• Failure to properly present yourself and/or organization could damage your reputation and
failure of your organization.
Successful cyber presence involve many activities…
• Website
• Social Media
• SEO (Search engine optimization)
• SEM (Search Engine Marketing and more……

For cyber presence one must have the ability to:

• Communicate
• Share data, information, knowledge
• Interact with other entities and capabilities
• Market itself
• Creating a website is a powerful communication tool to begin your cyber space.
• A website is a unique way to communicate with the world.
• We can use the website to share our passion, get people to know our business,sell our products
• The internet is the ideal media to get in touch with a board audience with a limited cost.
• The website will give you :
 The perfect business card for your enterprise
 A detailed and permanent ad
 A place that’s open 24/7 all year round.
 Increased competitiveness
 Better responsive
 Increased credibility
Academic Websites
 Educational websites can include websites that have games, videos or topic related resources that
act as a tool to enhance learning and supplement classroom teaching.
 This make the process of learning entertaining and attractive to the student.
 It also has some negatives.
 Without proper guidance students may find not reliable resources and contents.
 Some websites offer massive variety of games and resources so students may be easily
distracted on such websites and spend time on other activities.
 WEBSITES USED FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES

 EdX : edx.org
 Most preferred by students.
 Founded by Harvard University and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in 2012.
 It is an online learning destination and MOOC provider.
 Offering high quality courses from world’s best universities and institutions.
 Out of 90 universities it includes top global ramkers.
 EdX : edx.org
 Most preferred by students.
 Founded by Harvard University and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in 2012.
 It is an online learning destination and MOOC provider.
 Offering high quality courses from world’s best universities and institutions.
 Out of 90 universities it includes top global rankers.

 Academic Earth : academicearth.org

 Gives huge array of academic options to student from traditional to contemporary studies.
 Provide online degree courses from accounting and economics to engineering.
 Also carries material on niche subjects like behavioral psychology.
 It has have a collaboration with bunch of colleges such as University of Oxford, MIT, Stanford
University and many more.
 For students the portal has videos and podcast in all subjects.
 Internet Archive : archive.org
 It is an authentic website storing the originals from various big websites.
 Eg: American libraries include the collection of free book directly attached to the college libraries’
websites.
 One of the best website imparting free and accessible knowledge.
 It does not give admission and certificate for learning.

 Big Think : bigthink.com

 Big Think has over 2000 fellows who have received great fame in their forte.
 These experts write article and record tutorials for students.
 Later the content is further refined by the editorial team of the website, giving authentic material to
the students.
 As it provide various opinion on one subject, they can create their own ideology.
 Students can get views from experts as well.
 Coursera : coursera.org
 Number of courses available on one subject.
 Students can find big universities and a sharable electronic course certificate.
 Courses include recorded video lectures, auto –graded and peer- reviewed assignments and community
discussion forums.

 Brightstiorm : brightstorm.com
 High school scholars can use this site for reference to mitigate their learning problem.
 The website make textbook easier for student to understand the intricate technical terminologies.
 Provide help in all subjects from mathematics to science, history and other subjects.
 CosmoLearning : cosmolearning.com
 Unlike other sites, this portal provides both academic and skill - based learning to the students.
 Students can refer materials being provided and enroll themselves in any of the 58 courses.
 This site has three main options materials, courses and documentaries.
 Subject divide in to two categories extra curricular and academic subjects.

 Futures channel : thefutureschannel.com

 This is not just an online portal, but an educational channel for learners.
 Unlike other websites, it only represent the significant problems faced by the students.
 For ex: students generally face problems in algebra, so they have created special section for them.
 Howcast : howcast.com
 This is a one-stop website for all the subjects, none of the above have these many arenas.
 Keeping the essence of inquisitiveness alive, the portal functions on common key words including the
word ‘how’.

 Khan Academy : Khanacdemy.org

 It is an online coaching website.
 Students cannot afford coaching can refer this site.
 Students have liberty to learn in their pace, as it has personalized dashboards to measure the progress
report.
 It has all traditional school subjects.
 It has partnered with NASA, Museum of Modern Arts, the California Academy of Science and MIT.
 The content is available in 36 languages.
 Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies
Definition
• Environmental studies deals with every issue that affects an organism.
• It is a multidisciplinary approach.
• It is an applied science as it seeks practical answers to making human civilization sustainable on the
earth’s finite resources.
• Its components include biology, geology, chemistry, physics, engineering, sociology, health,
anthropology, economics, statistics, computer and philosophy.

Scope
• We live in a place surrounded by natural landscape such as forest, river, mountain, and a combination
of these elements.
• These landscapes are modified by human beings, in villages, towns, or cities.
• People in cities get food from surrounding villages and these in turn depend on natural landscapes for
resources such as water for agriculture, fuel wood, fish.
• We use resources like water, air, resources for food and also depend the community of living plants
and animals which form a web of life.
• We cannot live without protecting earth’s environmental resources.
• So most tradition refer our environment as Mother Nature and most traditional societies have
learned that respecting nature is vital for their livelyhoods.
• Respecting nature and all living creature is not new to India.
• All our tradition is based on this values.
• Modern societies believe that more resources could be provided by means of technological
innovations.
• Ex: use of pesticides, fertilizers, irrigation through mega dams. This also bring rapid economic
growth.
• But the ill effects led to environmental degradation.
• These rapid development and agriculture that provides the goods for our society uses large
amount of natural resources.
• Nonrenewable resources- minerals and oil
• Renewable resources – timber, water (natural process like regrowth and rainfall)
• Deforestation – flood, dry river
• Sustainable utilization or development. (Natural resources -Money in the bank)
IMPORTANCE
• Environment is multidisciplinary.
• So scope of environmental studies is extremely wide and covers some aspects or nearly every major
disciplines.
• We live in a world in which natural resources are limited.
 Without them life itself is impossible.
 We are increasing in numbers and quantity of resource each of us use is also increase which results in
shrinking of the resources.
 Earth can’t sustain this expanding level of resource utilization.
• Misuse of resources and pollution
 We waste or pollute large amount of resources water, air etc.
 Create more and more material like plastic (single use plastics).
 Waste food (throwing food forms the garbage).
 Manufacturing processes create solid waste byproducts that are discarded and chemicals flow out as liquid
waste and pollute water gases that pollute air.
 Increasing amount of waste can’t be managed by natural process.
  When this waste is accumulate by the environment leads to variety of diseases and other adverse
environmental impacts.
 Eg:- Air pollution– Respiratory diseases
Water pollution – gastro intestinal diseases and many pollutants cause cancer.
• Remedy
 Each of us begin to take actions in our daily lives to preserve our environmental resources.
 Government can't do it alone.
• Need for public awareness
 Prevention is better than cure.
 Stop wasting resources and act as watch-dogs that inform the government about the sources that lead to
pollution and degradation of our environment.
 This can be possible through mass public awareness.
 Mass media such as newspaper, radio, TV, social media etc. strongly influence public opinion.
 Someone has to bring this to the media.
 Politicians always respond positively to a strong public support movement.
 So if you join an NGO that supports conservation, politicians will make green policies (policies to reduce
pollutions and wastage of resources).
• Suggested activities for concerned students
 Join a group to study nature such as WWFI (world Wide Found for Nature India) or BNHS (Bombay
Natural History Society) etc.
 Read newspaper articles and periodicals such as ‘Down to Earth’, WWF-I, newsletter, BNHS Hornbill,
Sanctuary magazine etc. that tell you more about our environment.
 Lobby for conserving resources by taking up cause of environmental issues during discussion with
friends and relatives. Practice to save paper, water, reduce use of plastics, practicing the 3R s principle
of reduce, reuse, recycle and proper waste disposal.
 Join local movements that support such as saving trees in your area, go on nature treks, recycle waste,
buy environment friendly products.
 Practice and promote good civic sense such as no spitting or tobacco chewing, no throwing garbage on
the road, no smoking in public places , no urinating or defecting in public places.
 Take part in events organized on World Environment day, wildlife week etc..
 Visit national parks or sanctuary.
 Create a solid media group about this issue and give maximum exposure to the public.
INSTITUTIONS IN ENVIRONMENT

• There have been several govt. and nongovernment organizations for environmental protection,
conservation of nature and natural resources in our country.
• The traditional conservation practices in ancient India have however gradually disappeared.
• Public awareness is thus a critical need to further environmental protection.
• Several institutions that deals with environmental protection and conservation are :

Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mumbai

• Began as a small society of six members in 1883.
• Grew from a group of shikaris and people from all walks of life into a major research organization that
influenced the conservation policy in the country.
• Its major contribution has been in the field of wildlife research.
• It is India's oldest conservation research based NGO and one that has acted at the forefront of the battle
for species and ecosystems.
  BNHS publishes a popular magazine called Hornbill and also an internationally well-known Journal on
Natural History.
 Its other publications include the Salim Ali Handbook on birds, JC Daniel's book of Indian Reptiles,
SH Prater's book of Indian Mammals and PV Bole's book of Indian Trees.
 One of its greatest scientists was Dr. Salim Ali whose ornithological work on the birds of the Indian
subcontinent is world famous.
 The BNHS has over the years helped Government to frame wildlife related laws and has taken up
battles such as the 'Save the Silent Valley’ campaign.

• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-I), New Delhi

 The WWF-I was initiated in 1969 in Mumbai.
 After the headquarters were shifted to Delhi with several branch offices all over India.
 The early years focused attention on wildlife education and awareness.
 It runs several programs including the Nature Clubs of India, program for school children and works
as a think tank and lobby force for environment and development issues.
• Center for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi
 Activities of this Center include organizing campaigns, holding workshops and conferences, and
producing environment related publications.
 It published a major document on the 'State of India's Environment', the first of its kind to be produced
as a Citizen's Report on the Environment.
 The CSE also publishes a popular magazine, ‘ Down to Earth’ which is a Science and Environment
fortnightly.
 It is involved in the publication of material in the form of books, posters, video films and also conducts
workshops and seminars on biodiversity related issues.

• CPR Environmental Education Centre, Madras

 The CPR EEC was set up in 1988.
 It conducts a variety of programs to spread environmental awareness and creates a interest in
conservation among the general public.
 It focused attention on NGOs, teachers, women, youth and children to generally promote conservation
of nature and natural resources.
 Its programs include components on wildlife and biodiversity issues.
• Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Ahmedabad
 It was initiated in 1989.
 It has a wide range of programs on the environment and produces a variety of educational material.
 CEE's Training in Environment Education (TEE) program has trained many environment educators.

• Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research (BVIEER), Pune

 This is part of the Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University.
 The Institute has a PhD, a Masters and Bachelors program in Environmental Sciences.
 It implements a large outreach programme that has covered over 135 schools in which it trains
teachers and conducts fortnightly Environment Education Programs.
 Biodiversity Conservation is a major focus of its research initiatives.
 It develops low cost ‘Interpretation Centres’ for Natural and Architectural sites that are highly locale
specific as well as a large amount of innovative environment edutational material for a variety of target
groups.
  Its unique feature is that it conducts environment education from primary school level to the
postgraduate level.

• Uttarkhand Seva Nidhi (UKSN), Almora

 The Organization is a Nodal Agency which supports NGOs in need of funds for their environment
related activities.
 Its major program is organizing and training school teachers to use its locale specific Environment
Education Workbook Program.
 The main targets are linked with sustainable resource use at the village level through training school
children.
 Its environment education program covers about 500 schools.

• Kalpavrikah, Pune
 This NGO, initially Delhi based, is now working from Pune and is active in several other parts of
India.
 Kalpavriksh works on a variety of fronts: education and awareness; investigation- and research; direct
action and lobbying, and litigation with regard to environment and development issues.
  Its activities include talks and audio-visuals in schools and colleges, nature walks and outstation
camps, organizing student participation in ongoing campaigns including street demonstrations, pushing
for consumer awareness regarding organic food, press statements, handling green alerts, and meetings
with the city's administrators.
 It is involved with the preparation of site- specific, environmental manuals for schoolteachers.
 Kalpavriksh was responsible for developing India's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in
2003

• Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore
 This institution was Dr. Salim Ali's dream that became a reality only after his demise.
 He wished to support a group of committed conservation scientists on a permanent basis.
 Initially conceived as being a wing of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) it later evolved as
an independent organization based at Coimbatore in 1990.
 It has a variety of field programs that have added to the country's information on our threatened
biodiversity.
• Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun
 This Institution was established in 1982.
 Major focus was training establishment for Forest Officials and Research in Wildlife Management.
 Publication - 'Planning A Wildlife Protected Area Network for India'.
 It has trained a large number of Forest Department Officials and Staff as Wildlife Managers.
 Its M.Sc. Program has trained excellent wildlife scientists.
 It also has an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) cell.
 It trains personnel in eco-development, wildlife biology, habitat management and Nature
interpretation.

• Botanical Survey of India (BSI)

 The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) was established in 1890 at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta. It
closed in 1939 and was reopened in 1954.
 In 1952 plans were made to reorganize the BSI and formulate its objectives.
  By 1955 the BSI had its headquarters in Calcutta with Circle Offices at Coimbatore, Shillong, Pune
and Dehra Dun.
 Between 1962 and 1979, offices were established in Allahbad, Jodhpur, Port Blair, Itanagar and
Gangtok.
 The BSI currently has nine regional centers.
 It carries out surveys of plant resources in different regions.

• Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).

 The ZSI was established in 1916.
 Its mandate was to do a systematic survey of fauna in India.
 It has over the years collected ‘type specimens’ by studying animal life over the years.
 Its origins were collections based at the Indian Museum at Calcutta, which established in 1875.
 Older collections of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, which were made between 1814 and 1875.
 Then these collections transferred to the ZSI.
  Today it has over a million specimens! This makes it one of the largest collections in Asia.

 It has done an enormous amount of work on taxonomy and ecology.

 It currently operates from 16 regional centers.

• National Mission for Clean Ganga(NMCG)

 It was reregistered as a society on 12 August 2011 under to societies registration act 1860.

 It acted as implementation ARM OF National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), which was constituted
under the provisions of the environment protection act 1986.

 NGRBA has since been dissolved with effect for the 7 October 2016, consequent to constitution of National
Council for Rejuvenation, protection and management of river Ganga.

 The act five tier structure national, state and district level to take measures for prevention, control and abatement of
environmental pollution in river ganga and to ensure continuous adequate flow of water so as to rejuvenate the river
Ganga.
 PEOPLE IN ENVIRONMENT

• There are several internationally known environmental thinkers.

• These thinkers looked at the environment from a completely different perspective.
• Charles Darwin
o wrote the 'Origin of Species', which brought to light the close relationship between habitats, and
species.
o It brought about a new thinking of man's relationship with other species that was based on evolution.
o Alfred Wallace came to the same conclusions during his work.

• Ralph Emerson
o spoke of the dangers of commerce to our environment in the 1840s.

• Henry Thoreau
o In the 1860s wrote that the wilderness should be preserved after he lived in the wild for a year.
o He felt that most people did not care for nature and would sell it off for a small sum of money.
• John Muir
o is remembered as having saved the great ancient sequoia trees in California's forests.
o In the 1890s he formed the Sierra club, which is a major conservation NGO in the USA.

• Aldo Leopald
o was a forest official in the US in the 1920s.
o He designed the early policies on wilderness conservation and wildlife management in the 1960s.

• Rachel Carson
o published several articles that caused immediate worldwide concern on the effects of pesticides on
nature and mankind.
o She wrote a well-known book called 'Silent Spring' which eventually led to a change in Government
policy and public awareness.
• EO Wilson
o is an entomologist who envisioned that biological diversity was a key to human survival on earth.
o He wrote 'Diversity of Life' in 1993, which was awarded a prize for the best book published on
environmental issues.
o His writings brought home to the world the risks to mankind due to man made disturbances in natural
ecosystems that are leading to the rapid extinction of species at the global level.
Individuals who shaped our environmental history
• Salim Ali's
o His name is synonymous with ornithology in India and with the Bombay Natural History Society
(BNHS).
o He also wrote several great books including the famous 'Book of Indian Birds'. His autobiography,
‘Fall of a Sparrow', should be read by every nature enthusiast.
o He was our country's leading conservation scientist and influenced environmental policies in our
country for over 50 years.

• Indira Gandhi
o As PM she has played a highly significant role in the preservation of India's wildlife.
o It was during her period as PM, that the network of PAs grew from 65 to 2981.
o The Wildlife Protection Act was formulated during the period when she was PM and the Indian Board
for Wildlife was extremely active as she personally chaired all its meetings.
o India gained a name for itself by being a major player in CITES and other International
Environmental Treaties and Accords during her tenure.
o BNHS frequently used her good will to get conservation action initiated by the Government.
• SP Godrej
o He was one of India's greatest supporters of wildlife conservation and nature awareness programs.
o Between 1975 and 1999, SP Godrej received 10 awards for his conservation activities.
o He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1999.
o His friendship with people in power combined with his deep commitment for conservation led to his
playing a major advocacy role for wildlife in India.

• MS Swaminathan
o He is one of India's foremost agricultural scientists and has also been concerned with various aspects
of biodiversity conservation both of cultivars and wild biodiversity.
o He has founded the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai, which does work on the
conservation of biological diversity.

• Madhav Gadgil
o He is a well-known ecologist in India.
o His interests range from broad ecological issues such as developing Community Biodiversity
Registers and conserving sacred groves to studies on the behavior of mammals, birds and insects.
o He has written several articles, published papers in journals and is the author of 6 books.
• M C Mehta
o He is undoubtedly India's most famous environmental lawyer.
o Since 1984, he has filed several Public Interest Litigations for supporting the cause of environmental
conservation.
o His most famous and long drawn battles supported by the Supreme Court include protecting the Taj
Mahal, cleaning up the Ganges River, banning intensive shrimp farming on the coast, initiating
Government to implement environmental education in schools and colleges, and a variety of other
conservation issues.

• Anil Agarwal
o He was a journalist who wrote the first report on the 'State of India's Environment' in 1982.
o He founded the Center for Science and Environment which is an active NGO that supports various
environmental issues.

• Medha Patkar
o He is known as one of India's champions who has supported the cause of downtrodden tribal people
whose environment is being affected by the dams on the Narmada river.
• Sunderlal Bahugna
o His Chipko Movement has become an internationally wellknown example of a highly successful
conservation action program through the efforts of local people for guarding their forest resources.
o His fight to prevent the construction of the Tehri Dam in a fragile earthquake prone setting is a battle
that he continues to wage: The Garhwal Hills will always remember his dedication to the cause for
which he has walked over 20 thousand kilometers.