SCIENCE CITY:A Centre For

Environmental And

Sustainable Development

EducationDr. B S BhallaScientist D

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

"Sustainable development is development that meets the

needs of the present generation, without compromising the

ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

- World Commission on Environment and Development (WECD)

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Various facilities available at Science City, make it an ideal place for conducting

environmental education activities. Visit to Science City campus will enhance your

understanding about the relationship between human beings and the

environment and develop capabilities/skills to protect the environment and

promote sustainable development.

Supreme Court directsuniversities to includeEnvironment Studies in UGcurriculum as a compulsorysubject (1991).

It makes us aware of our needto adopt sustainabledevelopment.

UGC COURSE CURRICULUM ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

UNIT 8:Mandatory Field VisitPGSC : One stop shop for maximum field information

Environmental Issues coveredClimate Change & Air PollutionWater Conservation

Rainwater Harvesting System Sprinkler System Drip Irrigation Karnal Technology

Wastewater Treatment Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)

Solid Waste managementNon- Conventional Energy

Solar, Hydro, Biomass & Wind Power Nuclear Energy Battery Power

Ecosystems and Biodiversity Disaster management

AIR POLLUTION

CLIMATE CHANGE Change

The Principal Sources of Air Pollution are:Primary Pollutants are emitted directly from various sources and cause harm in theiremitted state. For example: NO, SO2,CO,CO2 etc.Secondary Pollutants result from chemical transformations in the atmosphere. Forexample: O3, H2O2, HNO3, H2SO4, Nitrate and Sulfate etc.

Simply said ‘Climate change is a long-term change in theaverage weather patterns that define Earth’s local, regional andglobal climates.’Technically, Climate Change refers to a statistically significantvariation in either the mean state of the climate or in itsvariability, persisting for an extended period. The major causeof this change is CO2 or other Green house gases due to AirPollution.

What is Global Warming?Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth’sclimate system observedsince the pre-industrialperiod (between 1850 and1900) due to humanactivities, primarily fossilfuel burning, whichincreases heat-trappinggreenhouse gas levels inEarth’s atmosphere.

Since the pre-industrial period, human activities are estimated to have increased Earth’sglobal average temperature by about 1 0 Celsius (1.8 0 Fahrenheit), a number that iscurrently increasing by 0.2 0 C (0.36 0 F) per decade. This is affecting our ecosystems &productivity

Weather vs. Climate

Weather refers toatmospheric conditionsthat occur locally overshort periods of time-from minutes to hours ordays. Familiar examplesinclude rain, snow,clouds, winds, floods orthunderstorms.

Climate refers to thelong-term regional orglobal average oftemperature, humidityand rainfall patterns overseasons, years ordecades.

Is climate changing ?Glaciers- Natural thermometers

"Glaciers in the Himalayan arereceding faster, if the present ratecontinues, the likelihood of themdisappearing by the year 2035 isvery high," says the InternationalCommission for Snow and Ice (ICSI)in its recent study on Asianglaciers.

The great Himalayan glaciers areretreating at the alarming rate of30-50 feet per year (10-15 meters).

Glaciers expand when climate cools and they shrink when it warms. Most glaciersaround the world are shrinking, proof that climate is warming.

Climate Change Theatre

A unique theatre to promote sustainabledevelopment, the theatre sensitizes themasses on Climate Change and globalwarming issues. This 18 meter diameter domeshaped building with seating capacity of 125persons. The theatre takes visitors around theglobe through a film, to explore theimplications of a warming planet, specificallyfrom the Indian perspective, and providesopportunity to understand and appreciate thelatest climate issues and the human role inmitigating and adapting to climate change.This show also educates visitors on renewableenergy and Sustainable Development issuesvia multi-screen projections.

RAIN WATER HARVESTINGScience City harvests 100% of rain water.

Rain water harvesting is a technique of collection and storage ofrainwater into artificially constructed tanks ( for later use) or innatural reservoirs, or the infiltration of surface water intosubsurface aquifers (before it is lost as surface runoff).

One method of rainwater harvesting is rooftop harvesting. Allbuildings of PGSC are connected through pipes to andunderground system which takes water harvested from the rooftops to a large pond (14,000 m3 capacity) specifically constructedfor the purpose. This water is later used for irrigation.

RAIN WATER HARVESTING – Layout Design of Pipes

throughout the campus

RAIN WATER HARVESTING - RETENTION POND

Volume: 14,000 m3

SPRINKLER SYSTEM

PGSC conserves water by use of sprinkler system in place of floodirrigation.

Sprinkler is a deviceused to irrigatelawns, landscapes,crops, etc. byapplying water in acontrolled manner inway similar torainfall.They are also usedfor cooling and forthe control ofairborne dust.

DRIP IRRIGATION

Drip irrigation is a typeof micro-irrigationsystem that has thepotential to save waterand nutrients byallowing water to dripslowly to the roots ofplants, either fromabove the soil surface orburied below thesurface. The goal is toplace water directly intothe root zone andminimize evaporation.

KARNAL TECHNOLOGY100% treated water generation throughSTP is used for irrigation.

Karnal Technology involvesgrowing tree on ridges 1m wideand 50 cm high wand disposing oftreated/untreated sewage water infurrows. The amount of effluentsto be disposed off depends uponthe age, type of plants, climaticconditions, soil texture and qualityof effluents.

SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT BASED ON FAB TECHNOLOGY

Bioreactor

Aerator

Screening & Grit removal

Ring pack media

SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT BASED ON FAB TECHNOLOGY

• Nature of discharge: Domestic• Quantity: 150 KL/D• Designed Capacity: 225 KL/D• Mode of final Disposal: Use in

Horticulture/ Irrigation

FAB(Fluidized Aerobic Bioreactor), a wastewater treatment technology, is a betteralternative to conventional waste watertreatment. A thin film on the mediaenables the bacteria to act upon the bio-degradable matter in the effluent andreduce BOD5/COD content in presence ofoxygen from the air used for fluidization.

SANITATION MANAGEMENTBio Toilet Demonstration and Use in PGSC

Bio toilet is a decomposition mechanized toiletsystem which decomposes human excretory wastein the digester tank using specific high gradedbacteria (aerobic or anaerobic) further convertingit into methane gas and water.

Hydrolytic, acidogenic, acetogenic andmethanogenic group of bacteria are used.

Indian Railways is installing Biotoilets to makerailways free of the stink in bathrooms

The Bio-digester technology has been developedby Gwalior based Defence Research andDevelopment Establishment (DRDE) and Tezpurbased Defence Research Laboratory (DRL).

WASTE SEGREGATION

According to Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000municipal solid waste includes commercial and residential wastes generated ina municipal or notified areas in either solid or semi-solid form excludingindustrial hazardous wastes but including treated bio-medical wastes.

Municipal Solid Waste

It is the collecting, treating, and disposing of solidmaterial that is discarded and no longer useful.

Its sources are households; educational institutions;hotels; agricultural fields; industries, roads and railways;hospitals; places of recreation and tourism, etc.

Improper disposal can create unsanitary conditions andlead to pollution and outbreak of vector-borne disease.

Solid waste management involves technical, economic,administrative, and social challenges.

It is important to segregate waste at sourceand dispose it properly.

It is our responsibility to reduce waste and torecycle & reuse it, where possible, to protectthe environment and conserve our resources.

Solid Waste Management Classification of Solid Wastes• Municipal Waste• Hospital Waste• Hazardous Waste

Composting of organic waste,like food waste , paper, gardenand Agricultural waste.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Vermicomposting

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Vermicomposting Demonstration and Use in PGSC

A vermicomposting shed

Segregation of earthworms from ready compost

On-going training

RENEWABLE ENERGYState level Renewable Energy Park

The park is set up in 3.25 acre area withthe assistance of the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) andPunjab Energy Development Agency(PEDA) to create awareness among themasses on use of various renewableenergy sources (Solar, Wind, Hydel, Tide,Wave, Geo Thermal etc), information onnew technologies developed in the areaof renewable energy and to educate themasses on energy conservation measures.Students can also see live example ofSolar Energy use (as PGSC meets its partialenergy demand through SPV).

Battery Operated Trains

The use of battery operated vehicleshelps to save energy and reducecarbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Evolution of Life

Evolution is the change in characteristics of a species over several generations . As per Darwin’s ‘Theory of Evolution’ all species gradually change over time. This happens by natural selection. Individuals in a species have differences in their

genes. Hence, they show variation in physical characteristics. Individuals which are best suited to their environment are more likely to survive,

finding food, avoiding predators and resisting disease. These individuals are morelikely to reproduce and pass their genes on to their children.

Individuals that are poorly adapted to their environment are less likely to surviveand reproduce. Therefore their genes are less likely to be passed on to the nextgeneration.

As a result those individuals most suited to their environment survive andgradually evolve.

To see how life evolved on the earth visit the ‘Panorama ofLife through Ages’ at PGSC

Panorma on ‘Life through the Ages’ at PGSC

At “Life through the Ages Panorama”students can trace the origin of Earth(Big Bang) and life and their evolutionand explore progression of humanspecies, is set up in 80-feet diameterdome structure through 2D and 3Dmodels, huge background paintings(along with landscaping), providing awide-angle view of the entireoccurrence. It helps one embark on amillion years journey, from the firsthominines to the last surviving humanspecies i.e. Homo sapiens. Someoriginal fossils are also placed atScience City.

Dinosaur Park

The Panorama isassociated with a 2.5 acresopen Dinosaur Park withmore than 44 life sizedinosaurs and severalrobotic dinosaurs on theisland at the Science City.The students walk throughCretaceous, Jurassic andTriassic eras whenDinosaurs ruled the Earth.

You can also see moving dinosaurs at Science City.

Pic Source: https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-evolution

Evolution, Ecology and Ecosystems

Ecology is the interaction between organisms and their environment. It plays a significant role in forming new species An ecosystem includes all living things (plants/animals/organisms) in a given area

that interact with each other and the non-living environment (weather, earth, soil,atmosphere) that surrounds them

Major ecosystems are forests, grasslands, deserts, tundra, freshwater and marine.

Birds Gallery and Wetland EcosystemA gallery on Avian biodiversity showcasing avian wealth of the country.

Punjab is rich in aquaticresources which providehome to a large number ofresident and migratorybirds. It is, therefore,especially rich in Avian bio-diversity. A gallery on Birdbiodiversity showcasingwetland ecosystem alongwith various birds of eachState of India has been setup. It provides informationon avian wealth of thecountry and conservationissues.

BIODIVERSITY

FLORAL BIODIVERSITY IN PGSC

Biodiversity is the variety and variability of life onEarth. Biodiversity is typically a measure ofvariation at the genetic, species,and ecosystem level. Science City harbours richfloral and faunal biodiversity

PGSC harbours rich floral biodiversity with Cactus Garden, herbal garden andavenue of rare, endangered and threatened species. In all, there are morethan 168 plant species covering 144 genera and 58 families of plants. Cactusgarden has been developed in an area of approximately 4.25 acres. An herbalgarden has also been set up with a collection of medicinal and aromaticplants. Besides, Science City has beautiful collection of trees of Punjabhaving rich cultural and heritage value and Ashok Vatika.

About 168plant speciesfrom 144genera.

More than5,500 trees inthe campus.

FLORAL BIODIVERSITY IN PGSC

Reference: Jerath et al. 2017

Greenhouses A greenhouse works by converting light energy intoheat energy. Light rays from the sun enter thegreenhouse, where they are absorbed andconverted to heat.

FAUNAL BIODIVERSITY IN PGSC

PGSC is endowedwith a rich faunalbiodiversity.

Bird watchers willfind it interesting.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Earthquake SimulatorThis theatre-style ride simulator comesequipped with 30 chairs on a shaketable which enables you to watch acomputer-generated film projected onthe LED TV with an objective to prepareyou to face the disaster while youundergo a vigorous and shaky feeling ofimmersion in real action.The Earthquake simulator providessimultaneous and self-regulatingprogrammable motion in horizontal andvertical direction and reproduces up toRichter Scale 6.5 magnitudeprogrammable earthquake.

Seismic Zones in India

India lies at the north western end of the Indo Australian Plate,which encompasses India, Australia, a major portion of the IndianOcean and other smaller countries. This plate is colliding againstthe huge Eurasian plate and going under the Eurasian plate. This process of one tectonic plate getting under another isresponsible for making India a earthquake prone area. A number of significant earthquakes occurred in and aroundIndia over the past century. Some of these occurred in populatedand urbanized areas and hence caused great damage.

The latest version ofseismic zoning map of Indiagiven in the earthquakeresistant design code onIndia [IS 1893 (Part 1) 2002]assigns four levels ofseismicity for India in termsof zone factors. In otherwords, the earthquakezoning map of India dividesIndia into 4 seismic zones(Zone II,III, IV and V) unlikeits previous version, whichconsisted of five or six zonesfor the country. Zones depicts highestlevel of seismicity whereasZone 2 is associated withthe lowest level ofseismicity.

Detailed guidelines for construction,maintenance and fire safety of thebuilding structures given by NationalBuilding Code of India are strictlyfollowed.All buildings structures are equippedwith Fire Fighting equipments as perthe mandatory requirement.

Fire Fighting System

OTHER ATTRACTIONSCLOSENESS TO NATURE

Magnificent Lake

For boating lovers, a largeartificial lake has been set upin the centre of the ScienceCity with a rowing distance ofabout 1 kilometer. There aremanual paddle operatingboats for the visitors to movethrough the lake and to have alook at the Dinosaurs Parkwhich is made on an islandsurrounded by the lake.

Environmental Documentaries

A large collection ofenvironmental documentariesare available at PGSC. Thesedocumentaries have beenshown to the participants duringhosting of various scienceawareness days celebrations,conferences, seminars andworkshops at Convention Hall.

Large Format Film Projection Theatre

Gear up for a immersive experience ofwith our Large Format Film ProjectionTheatre!The film size is 10 times larger thanused in regular theatres and 3 timeslarger than standard 70mm film used inclassic Hollywood epics.With a seating capacity of 327persons, theatre projecting LargeFormat films on 23 meter-tilted dome issure to give you larger-than-life thrill. It is a mesmerizing visual treat towatch the full-scale spectacle andexperience the delight of sound clarity!

An American film from MacGillivrayFreeman Films, is about the trials andtribulations involved in reaching thesummit of the Mount Everest, the highestmountain peak on Earth, located in theHimalayan region of Nepal. It wasreleased to IMAX theatres in 1998 andbecame the highest-grossing film made inthe large format. The film portrays theexhaustive preparations of internationalteam of climbers, their trek to thesummit, and their successful return to theBase Camp. It also exhibits and details thehurdles, challenges and daringencounters faced by the group includingavalanches, lack of oxygen, andtreacherous ice walls.

Everest- Environmental Documentary

THANKS

PUSHPA GUJRAL SCIENCE CITY, KAPURTHALA