Programme

Presently the Department offers Post Graduate (M.A. / M.Sc.) and Ph.D. degree in Environment Studies.

Post Graduate Degree (M.A./ M.Sc.)

About the Course

Presently, the Department of Environment Studies offers M. A./M.Sc. (30 seats) in Environment Studies. The major purpose of this course is to disseminate knowledge pertaining to ecosystem conservation, environmental management and sustainable development leading to improvement in ecosystem and human well-being, and to impart specialized skills to students and researchers in the concerned field. The prime aim of this P.G. program is to offer a course different than conventional courses being offered by many other universities and to impart transdisciplinary approaches to solve real-world environmental issues. This course will address the need for better environmental management and sustainable development utilizing the expertise of the faculty members. A prospective student to the Programme must have an undergraduate degree (Physical Science, Chemical Science, Biological Science, Agricultural Science, Engineering, Geography, Anthropology and Economics) from any recognized University/institution with minimum of 50% marks in aggregate, and with science at 10+2/senior secondary level. The admission to 30 seats for this PG programme is through the Common PG Entrance Test (CPET) conducted by the Department of Higher Education, Government of Odisha (https://pg.samsodisha.gov.in/). The Courses of Studies for M.A/ M.Sc in Environment Studies are under Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) effective from 2022-2023 Academic Session. The Syllabus has been designed covering practicals/dissertations/field works/seminars, etc., wherever applicable. A list of Text Books and Reference Books (as applicable) is provided against each paper for all Semesters. However, students may also make use of authentic online sources for their benefit. A student is advised to deliver at least one seminar talk on a selected topic based on the syllabus during each semester. During the course work, students are allowed to interact with the faculty to clarify their doubts, if any. The assessment pattern includes, internal tests, end of semester examinations, field study reports, assignments, minor and major project works, as apt to the curriculum.

How to Enter into the Course

The Department of Environment Studies is offering two years (4 semester) Post Graduate Programme (M.A./M.Sc.) in Environment Studies (30 seats). The admission for this PG programme is through the Common PG Entrance Test (CPET) as conducted by the Department of Higher Education, Government of Odisha (https://pg.samsodisha.gov.in/).

• Eligibility Conditions: A prospective student to the Programme must have an undergraduate degree (Physical Science, Chemical Science, Biological Science, Agricultural Science, Engineering, Geography, Anthropology and Economics) from any recognized University/institution with minimum of 50% marks in aggregate, and with science at 10+2/senior secondary level.

Class Schedule

There are six working days in a week. The classes are held as per the time table (notified before the commencement of classes) for each semester. Remedial and add-on classes for UGC/CSIR NET-JRF are an integral part of class schedule (time table).

Study Tours and Internships

Internship programme and study tour is an integral part of the course curriculum. The students will have to undergo internship programme in different research institutions and research laboratories, and industries. Academic visits to different institutes / National laboratories in the area of environmental studies are scheduled to be conducted every year.

Student Project Work

Students are assigned with project work as part of the course curriculum in relevant domains.

Ph.D

About the Course Programme

Ph. D degrees are offered in Environment Studies. The Ph. D studies are being undertaken in the fields of Conservation Ecology, Ecotoxicology, Environmental Geochemistry, Environmental Impact Assessment, Natural Resource Governance, Environmental Justice, Tradional Ecological Knowledge, Environmental Geography, Remote Sensing & GIS applications in Environmental and Disaster Management, and Coastal and Marine Environmental Management, etc.

How to Enter into the Course Programme

Environment Studies is an interdisciplinary subject. A candidate with at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade and 50% of marks or an equivalent grade for SC & ST and Physically challenged candidate in relevant subjects at P.G. level is eligible to appear at the university research eligibility test (URET).

Curriculum / Syllabi

The pre-PhD course syllabus has been designed strictly in accordinace with relevant gulidlines notified by the University Grants Commission (UGC) with different subject specializations , viz., Nature and Society, Geoinformatics, Environmental Monitoring, Ecotoxicology, Environmental Geochemistry and Isotope Studies.

Course Schedule

After admission into the Ph. D programme a candidate is required to undertake course work on a regular basis for a minimum period of one semester. The course work is of 14 Credits (400 marks) and comprise of various coruses/papers in line with relevant guidelines stipulated by the UGC.

Download Curriculum / Syllabi

People

Dr. B. Anjan Kumar Prusty
Head and Associate Professor
MSc, MPhil, PhD
Email:[email protected]
Home Page | Publication

Dr. B. Anjan Kumar Prusty, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environment Studies, and presently the Head of the Department. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences for his works on environmental biogeochemistry with emphasis on heavy metal speciation in wetlands from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. His areas of research interests include conservation ecology, wetlands, contaminant transfer models, river basins (environmental flow and contaminant budgeting, aquatic ecosystem health), environmental impact assessment (monitoring and planning and eco-sensitive areas), ecotoxicology (contaminants in matrices such as water and soil and environmental health implications). He has served in different capacities (Scientist/Senior Scientist) in different research Institutions in the country, viz., Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History and Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology, and has also worked in collaboration with different research groups from other countries including Mexico, Spain, Tunisia. He has been in the field of Research for more than 20 years. He is involved in designing and teaching modules in Environmental Sciences and Sustainability Studies in various universities including Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), India. He is a member of academic, scientific and professional bodies such as UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (IHP), IUCN Species Survival Commission, IUCN Wildlife Health Specialist Group (WHSP) and IUCN Goose Specialist Group (GSP), Life Member of Ethological Society of India (ESI), and a former EIA Coordinator and Functional Area Expert for carrying out EIA and Environmental Auditing projects. He has successfully completed more than 20 R&D projects funded by various Indian and International Funding agencies (SERB-DST, CSIR, MoES, MoEF&CC, Planning Commission of India, Forest & Wildlife Dept. of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharasthra; UNICEF, UNESCO), and Environmental Consultancy Projects sponsored by various industries and state government departments including UT Administration of Puducherry, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, till date. Currently, he has one ongoing R&D project funded by the Science & Technology Dept. of Govt. of Odisha. He has published more than 50 research articles in Journals of repute, more than 20 book chapters and several papers in conference proceedings. Dr Prusty has participated and develived talks in more than 20 international conferences held in India and other countries such as China, Thailand, Mexico, Sweden. His student supervisions include 03 PhD scholars (01 completed, 02 ongoing) and around 30 MSc and BTech dissertations.

Dr. Bikram Sen Sahu
Assistant Professor
MSc., PhD
Email:[email protected]
Home Page | Publication

Dr. Bikram Sen Sahu is presently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environment Studies at Berhampur University. He has completed his master's and Ph.D. degrees from the School of Environmental Sciences,Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He studied the stratospheric ozone column variability over India during his doctoral research. He has also published research findings on the regional climate and urban heat island. His research area of interest is environmental physics, climate change, natural resource management, environmental modeling, and simulation. He has participated in several national/international conferences, symposiums, workshops, and training programs.He has many national and international publications published in peer-reviewed journals to his credit. He has qualified for the National Eligibility Test for Junior Research Fellowship, conducted by University Grant Commission (UGC) exam held in Dec- 2012.

Dr. Kabita Baral
Assistant Professor
MA, MPhil, PhD
Email:[email protected]
Home Page | Publication

Dr. Kabita Baral has completed her Post Graduate in Geography from Utkal University. She has completed her M. Phil and Ph.D. from Centre for Regional Studies of University of Hyderabad. For her M.Phil she has worked on solid waste management and Environmental Justice. Her Ph.D is on the fishery governance at Chilika. She has been serving as an Assistant Professor in the Post Graduate Department of  Natural Resources management and Geoinformatics of erstwhile Khallikote University since its inception and currently in the Department of Environmental Studies, Berhampur University. Prior to joining this department, she had also taught Geography at Regional Institute of Education, Bhubaneswar. She also has worked with University of Hyderabad, Commission of Inquiry of Government of Telangana, and Foundation for Ecological Society, Anand in various capacity. Her principal research interest is Natural Resources Governance and Environmental Geography. Currently she is running one project funded by DHE, Odisha. She has various research papers and book chapters in national and international publication to her credit . She also has attended many national and international seminars, conferences and workshops.

Dr. Santosh Kumar Beja
Assistant Professor
MSc, PhD
Email:[email protected]
Home Page | Publication

Dr. Santosh Kumar Beja has completed his M.Sc. in Applied Geology, Pondicherry University and Ph.D. in science, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad. His specialization was on paleoclimatic studies, stable isotope geochemistry and hydrogeochemistry. He has work on paleoclimatic studies from hard corals of Lakshadweep Archipelago using stable isotope and trace elemental geochemistry. He has also work on paleoclimatic studies in marine sediments using stable isotope and trace elemental geochemistry. He has joined as an assistant professor in the department of Environment Studies. He has international publications in peer reviewed journals to his credit.  He has presented in few national seminars/conferences and participated in few workshops.

Dr. Rachna Panda
Guest Faculty
MSc, M. Phil, PhD
Email:[email protected]
Home Page | Publication

Dr Rachna Panda is presently working as a Guest Lecturer in the Department of Environment Studies since July 2022. She has completed her M.Sc., M.Phil and Ph.D. degrees in Marine Sciences from Berhampur University. She also has dual Master’s degree in Ecology and Environment from IIEE, New Delhi. Dr Panda has biological oceanographic research experience of more than a decade. She has acquired specific skills in plankton taxonomy, analysis of water quality and bio-toxicological studies. Her research interests range from zooplankton ecology, environmental toxicology, coastal ecological dynamics, study of bioactive compounds, aquatic pollution to remote sensing. She has participated in several national/international conferences, symposiums, consultative workshops, and training programmes. She has worked as a research fellow in many Govt. Of India research projects extending from fish bio-toxicology to zooplankton studies. Dr Panda has many research publications to her credit, published in peer-reviewed journals and as book chapters. Prior to joining Berhampur University, Dr Panda has been working as a Teaching Faculty in the Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Khallikote Unitary University, for more than three years. She has skilled teaching experience for both Post Graduate and Under Graduate courses in the fraternity of Biological Sciences.

Facilities

Classrooms

The classrooms are equipped with relevant teaching aids.

Seminar Library

Contents to be uploaded

Laboratories

Computational Facility

The department has a centralized computer laboratory. Various softwares (including open source) viz., Q-GIS, Arc-GIS, Mendley, ERDAS Imagine, Arc-view, MATLAB, MegaStat, SPSS, Surfer, Statistica and other statistical packages and modelling (Air Quality and Water Quality) software are available to students and faculty members for teaching-learning activities. Additional computational facilities for big-data analysis and image processing is also available.

Environmental-Analytical faciltity

The Department has a pooled laboratory facility for conducting experiments for PG students and Researchers in various domains of environmental research. Presently, the lab is equipped with instruments such as PM10 and PM2.5 Sampler, visible spectrophotometer, flame phototmeter, Ion Analyzer, Soxhlet Extaction Unit, Kjeldahl Digestion Unit, Muffle Furnace, Trinocular Microscope, Petrological Micrscope, in addition to all the basic instruments required for analysis of ambient air, water, waste water, soil, industrial sludge and rock samples.

Field Ecology Tools

Presently, the department has acquired some of the gadgets for conducting field ecology research, viz, GPS, Laser Range Finder, Binocular, Spotting Scope with Tripod, and DSLR Camera.

Research

The faculty members of the PG Department of Environment Studies have been pursuing research in various domains of Environment, Natural Resources Management and Sustainable Development.

Research Thrust Areas in the Department

Conservation Ecology, Coastal Zone Management, Disaster Management, Ecotoxicology, Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental and Isotope Geochemistry, Environmental Modelling, Geo-hydrology, Natural Resource Governance, Paleoclimatology, Environmental Geography, Human Geography, Social Ecology.

Project Execution in the Department (Ongoing and Completed)

1. Mental Model Mapping of Natural Habitat Depletion due to excessive mining and industrialization: Analyzing the public and expert perception of tribal culture of Odisha (PI: Dr Manoranjan Mishra). IMPRESS, ICSSR, New Delhi. (Completed)
2. Ecological Complexity as a Driver of Resource Use by the Birds of Prey: Phase-I: Population Assemblage Along the Coast in Ganjam District (PI: Dr B. Anjan Kumar Prusty). Science & Technology Department, Govt. of Odisha. (Ongoing)
3. Women Participation and Leadership in fisherfolk organization: A story of marine fishery cooperative societies in Ganjam (PI: Dr Kabita Baral). OURIIP Seed Funding, Dept. of Higher Education, Govt. of Odisha. (Ongoing).
4. Prioritization and network relation modelling of the faculty and students perception on use of Open Education Resources using AHP-DEMATEL: A case study on Higher Education of Odisha (PI: Dr Manoranjan Mishra). Minor Research Project sponsored by Odisha State Open University (OSOU), Sambalpur (Completed).
5. Characterizing lightning variability and vulnerability: A regional analysis from Odisha (PI: Dr. Bikram Sen Sahu). OURIIP Seed Funding, Dept. of Higher Education, Govt. of Odisha. (Ongoing).

Achievements

Staff and their achievements

Students/research scholars & their achievements

• Mr. Sakti Prasad Pattnaik has cleared UGC NET (LS) in (June- 2020)
• Ms. Rolin Mishra has joined as Management Trainee, EHS, Visa Steels, Jajpur, Odisha

Events

The team at the Department of Environment Studies (including that at erstwhile Khallikote University) has organized/co-organized the following events till date

• National Workshop on Role of Intellectual Property Rights and Inovation Management in University Ecosystem in association with NRDC, India
• National Conference on Resource Efficiency, Sustainability and Globalization: Exploring India-European Union Cooperation (RESGIEU).
• International Seminar on Exploring the Panoramic Landscape of Our Earth, Galaxy, and Universe (EPLEGU).
• International Webinar on Biodiversity Conservation at Crossroads for Observing World Environment Day.
• Webinar on Lightning Hazard: Sensing, Mitigation and Public Safety Awareness.
• Sensitization Seminar on Lightning Hazard: Mitigation and Prevention
• National Webinar on Sustainable Living in Harmony with Nature for Observing World Environment Day.
• 1st Lecture entitled Management of Biodegradable Waste through Vermi-technology under Distinguished Lecture Series.

Student Seminar

Till date around 40 student seminar presentations on several relevant topics have been conducted.

Alumni

T be updated soon...

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