Ph.D. Coursework

Integrated management of water bodies (AHN-523)

Semester: Autumn 2021

Course includes : Hydrology, types, hydrological processes and water balance of water bodies, estimation of present and projected demands, human impacts, inventory of human activities in a basin, land use and impact of anthropogenic activities on water quality, domestic water demand, wastewater generation, collection and treatment and disposal, urban storm water, industrial waste generaion, open defication, municipal solid wastes collection, transport and disposal, impacts of dumping in drains or sewer lines; Point and non point sources, types of water pollution, water quality criteria and standards, designated best uses of water; equilibrium, acid base, oxidation – reduction, precipitation and complex reactions; Physical methods (turbidimetry, nephlometry, optical methods of measurement, potentiometry, chromatography, spectroscopy); measurement of sulphates, Na, DO, BOD, TOC, all forms of N, fluorides exposure to analytical techniques of IIC like ICP, AAS, GC, biological components (periphyton, phytoplankton, zoobenthos, nekton, biodiversity indices, trophic status, P/R ratio microbiological MPN, coliform and streptococcus, bioindicators, biomonitoring of water bodies), sampling, schedule and water quality monitoring program of national rivers and lakes; sampling protocol of NRCD, standards, water quality indices, strategy for water quality management, case histories of ongoing projects; Principles of environmental management, EIA, water and sustainable development, involvement of stakeholders, water governance, environmental education, public participation; Legal, constitutional provisions, national policies, legal and institutional arrangement for the management of water quality and quantity; Application of remote sensing and GIS for water management, modeling (forecasting and growth modeling), eco–mapping, inter river basin transfer, cost–benefit analysis, environmental taxes, economics of natural resources. 

Aquatic ecology (AHN-525)

Semester: Autumn 2021

Course includes : Definition, relevance, principles and scope of ecology, sub-divisions, Structure and functions, biotic and abiotic components and productivity of ecosystem and energy flow, materials cycling, energetics, limiting factors, development and evolution; Trophic levels, food chain and food webs, ecological pyramids, competition, population ecology; Lakes, wetlands and rivers, reservoirs and springs, structure and functions, usefulness, natural and manmade ecosystems; concept, importance and conservation of aquatic biodiversity role of invasive species and its importance; System analysis, ecosystem models, Stressed ecosystems, homeostasis, ecological succession, ecosystem resilience; Pollution of lakes and rivers, causes, impacts and control of eutrophication; principles and application of restoration methods, ecotechnologies; National/international perspectives, policies, Ramsar convention, NLCP, NRCD, case studies of Dal lake, Nainital lake, Chilka, Loktak and Asan wetlands, Tehri dam reservoir, river Ganges and Yamuna; Elementary biochemistry, salient features of biomolecules, enzymes and other tools of biotechnology, discovery and diversity, prokaryotic cell, microbial energetics, biosynthesis and nutrition, autotrophic way of life, growth, macromolecular synthesis; Microorganism in environment, microbiology of water, bacteria and viruses, bacteriophages, animal and plant viruses, structure, replication and quantification, structure and diversity of algae, protozoa and rotifers. 

Biomass production and utilization (AHN-536)

Semester: Autumn 2021

Course includes : Energy crisis, rural and urban energy loads, biomass as a source of energy, energy plantation, forest and agro residues, aquatic biomass, animal waste; Classification, shape, size, ash content and volatile matter in biomass; Biomass characteristics, procedures, proximate and ultimate analysis, ash deformation and fusion characteristics, calorific value, bulk density, devolatilisation; Biomass production through energy plantation, agroforestry, short rotation intensive culture, biomass harvesting, handling and pre-conversion processes; Physical, biological and thermo-chemical conversion processes, combustion, pyrolysis, gasification, bio-diesel, biogas production, biogas plants, briquetting/size reduction; Synthetic fuel production, bagasse based co-generation for power, utilization of biomass for the generation of solid, liquid/gaseous fuels for meeting heat and power needs; Environmental aspects of biomass production and utilisation and waste minimization system. 

Environmental planning and management (AHN-518)

Semester: Spring 2022

Course includes : Basic ecological principles, concept and components of ecosystem, energy flow, nutrient cycling, cybernetics, ecological regulation, ecological diversity; Interaction of various components of environment, ecological disorders; Environmental impact assessment (EIA) of water resources projects with emphasis on renewable energy projects e.g. SHP, biomass, solar energy; Conservation of resources, environmental policies, laws and acts; Significance of EIA of renewable energy projects, case studies of large and small hydro projects; Environmental compatible growth.