Biopolis -Sustainable Urban Development 2011
The topics covered by the modules help me to better understand the current scenario of sustainable urban development across the globe. The course has provided insight regarding various developments, issues, concerns, corrective actions, policies, and their framework, thus widening my sphere of knowledge. Being in the clean development mechanism consultancy, the knowledge gained here will surely help me in developing a better outlook and understanding of projects related to this sector. The material provided by the course module is very informative, as it not only address the recent global scenario of particular topics but also illustrates them with examples, making them easy to understand, and supports them with authentic data, thus making them completely reliable. The details covered in the course are very informative and have been explained in a manner which makes them equally important as other major points. It was really a great experience undertaking this learning program. Saumya Pandey, CDM Consultant (Executive), IL&FS Environmental Infrastructure and Services Limited, India
This course helped me to acquire a deeper knowledge of the topics covered, which I am interested in and which I enjoy very much. Sustainable urban development is a very new topic for me that I enjoyed throughout the study materials. Now I am able to appreciate much more the value of sustainable urban development and its relationship to the environment. It was really fruitful in the context that it developed my understanding of possibilities for creating green jobs in almost all sectors. I do believe I will be able to incorporate what I have learned during this course in my future job. Being an Environmental Executive, I found the course altogether helpful in providing a better understanding of various sectors and their basics, and, also, the impacts of various activities on our surroundings. Narendra Singh Rathore, Environmental Executive, R.S. Environlink Technologies Pvt. Ltd.Gurgaon (HR.), India
The course module has enabled me to have a broader outlook on environmental issues and to grasp the great effects that simple acts have on the environment The first valuable aspect of the sustainable urban development course was the fact that the course had been organised in an excellent manner, having separate modules for each field of interest, which helps a lot in understanding and using the information. From now on, I will keep in mind the opportunity to participate in or promote such initiatives as an environmentally conscious citizen. Once again, I appreciate you and your team. Gargi Sharma, SENES Consultants India Pvt. Ltd., Climate Change Specialist, India
The material covered in the course is very useful. The topics of land management and urban ecology, water and waste management, and green building are very valuable and useful. Md Shakil Ahmad, Secretary, Riyayat, India
The material was very lucid, highly informative and useful for understanding current environmental problems and their possible solutions. The course has helped me to pursue my current research work. Parth Sarathi Mahapatra, Project Associate–II, Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR), India
The material is highly informative and I gained a lot of knowledge. It helped me in understanding concepts that are vital to my present work. The course material is very lucid and easy to understand, and helped me to go through the entire course with ease even though I was involved in my work. Sonali Pradhan, Senior Research Fellow, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, India
Food, Agriculture and the Environment 2011-2013
The material covered in the course is very very nice, crisp, informative and well designed. The chapters on organic agriculture and farming, and rural farming were well designed and valuable. This course will surely help me in my research work on climate vulnerabilities and coastal farmers. Thanks! Parth Sarathi Mahapatra, Project Associate, Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR), India
The course material has been designed in a very lucid manner so it is easy to grasp. The interrelationship between agriculture, environment and food security has been provided in a detailed manner, which helped me to understand the concept. This has been the best part of the course. I got a very clear view of this interrelationship and also its development all over the world. The examples made it a more interesting read, helping me to understand the reality of the situation. Overall, a very good read which helped to enhance my knowledge which I can apply to my present research work. Sonali Pradhan, Senior Research Fellow, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, India
The course material was concise and helped me to cover and understand many topics. The course content is multidisciplinary and cuts across themes and gives a holistic picture of the prevailing agriculture and development scenario. I work in the sector of bioenergy and biofuels, and food security is my current area of research. The material helped me to crystallize the concepts and put my thoughts into words. I have immensely gained from the course in getting a macro picture. The lessons learnt from the course will be put into use in my research, and I am now confident more than ever to handle agricultural issues. Santosh Kumar Patnaik, Scientist, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, India
The material covered is a ready-to-use, handy guide for dispensing information. Particularly the summary and the question/answer section in each topic helped in clearing doubts and in easily understanding the material. I am involved in raising environmental awareness, and the topics covering natural farming, bio-fuel implications and genetic engineering aspects have been most useful, as these are burning topics here in India and people wish to know more about them. A clearer understanding of these concepts has enabled me to generate healthy debates among my peers and colleagues which brought up many interesting ideas. I also learnt many new aspects which I was not previously aware of. The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy also interested me a great deal, as it could serve as a benchmark for other countries. Puskar Pande, Environmental Officer, XIDAS, India
The material covered in the modules help me to better understand the current scenario of agriculture and food security across the globe. The course provided insight into various developments, issues, concerns, corrective actions, policies, and their framework, thus widening my sphere of knowledge. Being in Clean Development Mechanism consultancy, the knowledge gained here will surely help me in developing a better outlook and understanding of projects related to this sector. The material provided in the course module is very informative, as it not only gives the current global scenario of particular topics, but also illustrates the topics with examples making them easy to understand and supports them with authentic data. The details which are covered in the course are explained in a manner which makes them equally important as other major points. Undertaking this learning program was really a great experience Saumya Pandey, Management Trainee, IL&FS Environmental Infrastructure and Services Limited, New Delhi, India
The material covered in the course module is very informative. The material on biotechnology and organic farming is the most valuable aspect of the course and it will be very helpful for the agriculture based programme of our organisation. Shakil Ahmad, Secretary, Riyayat, India
I am a Master’s student in Environment Management at the Forest Research Institute, so the course module was related to my Master’s degree. It helped me to better understand my classroom studies. The language of the material was easy to understand, and the course covered important aspects. The course interface showed the list of participants with their email addresses, so we could communicate with each other and enhance our global communication on various environmental issues. Thus, this course was very useful for us. Vinod Kumar Yadav, Student, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, India
Green Salary 2010-2011
The material is rich in content with references which helps me gain information in an easy way. I am working in the field of Environmental Education, Environmental Psychology, etc. The material mentions the present environmental crisis, green technology, market economy and the unemployment issue, and shows how to resolve the issues through introducing a green salary. At least for the last eight years I was thinking of how to integrate sustenance of rural life and the protection of the environment. The explanation and issues raised here gave me a fresh and enriching look to develop my view. There are multiple ways to foster environmental cleanliness. The material gives insight and shows practically that aspects of sustainability issues such as recycling and reuse can not only be integrated with development but can be a base of development. When the material talks about alternative building structure it comes to mind that in third world countries like India, green architecture is originally traditional structure. Due to rapid urbanization with a consumerist lifestyle people of developing countries like India are deviating towards non-green architecture and it is necessary to bring this particular issue in education at all levels. Therefore, for me it is enriching. However, I feel the material has missed an opportunity to bring the philosophy of sustainable living e.g. Gandhian philosophy of a self sustaining community consisting of non-greedy individuals. It is high time to check, re-look and question the consumerist life style. Saurav Shome, Research Scholar, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (TIFR), India
The material provided in the course was very interesting. It tells us about the real situation and current practices related to the improvement of the environment in a lucid manner. The material has given me a wide and better understanding of the word “green.” The information provided in the study material lays the foundation for “green thinking.” It clears several basic doubts related to environmental protection and quality improvement. It makes it easy to relate our each and every activity with the environment and assess its direct and indirect impact on the environment in both the short and long term. The examples illustrating the points mentioned further enhance understanding. Being a consultant, I found the course altogether helpful in providing me with a better understanding of various sectors and their basics, and, also, the impacts of various activities on our surroundings. It helped me in sharpening my analytical, logical and argumentative skills. It also kept me abreast with the latest developments in the “green field.” I am very grateful for being a part of such a nice course. Saumya Pandey Management Trainee, IL&FS Environmental Infrastructure and Services Limited, India
The material which was available during the course is excellent and has enormous significance for teaching, by addressing many debatable issues in a lucid and presentable way. The information was exhaustive and will be very useful for my classroom teaching. As I am involved with teaching research pertaining to cleaner technology and one course in Disaster Management, the understanding developed from the material has enormous implications and will be an asset for me when facing the audience in the classroom and will make me confident to answer many of their queries. Professor Amitava Rakshit, Assistant Professor, Institute of Agriculture Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, India
The green salaries concept is in the budding stage in India and therefore this material has helped me in identifying and spreading awareness about the avenues of such fields. The topic on green buildings was very informative, as green buildings are being promoted in my country too. The incorporation of aesthetics into environmental planning and design was also a new concept; various examples showed how even seemingly small initiatives can grow to be big and provide valuable employment besides helping to enrich the environment. In fact, I was inspired to start my own website with the help of my classmate on dissemination of environmental protection (http:/greencleanguide.com) and analysis of environment related information after reading this course. Puskar Pande, Environmental Officer, XIDAS, New Delhi, India
This course helped me to acquire a deeper knowledge of the topics covered, which I am interested in and which I enjoy very much. The Green Salary is a very new topic for me that I enjoyed throughout the study materials. Now I am able to appreciate much more the value of green salaries and their relationship to the environment. It was really fruitful in the context that it developed my understanding of possibilities for creating green jobs in almost all sectors. I do believe I will be able to incorporate what I have learned during this course in my future job. Being an Environmental Executive, I found the course altogether helpful in providing a better understanding of various sectors and their basics, and, also, the impacts of various activities on our surroundings. Once again, I appreciate you and your team. Narendra Singh Rathore, Environmental Executive, R.S. Environ Link Technologies Pvt. Ltd, India
The course module has enabled me to have a broader outlook on environmental issues and to grasp the great effects that simple acts have on the environment The first valuable aspect of the Green Salary course was the fact that the course had been organised in an excellent manner, having separate modules for each field of interest, which helps a lot in understanding and using the information. From now on, I will keep in mind the opportunity to participate in or promote such initiatives as an environmentally conscious citizen. Once again, I appreciate you and your team. Vinod Kumar Yadav, Ph.D. Scholar, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, India
The material which was available during the course is excellent and has an enormous significance in teaching by addressing many debatable issues in a lucid and clear way. The information was exhaustive and will be very useful for classroom teaching. As I am involved with teaching research pertaining to cleaner technology and disaster management, the understanding developed from the material has enormous implications and will be an asset for me in facing the audience in the classroom, making me confident to answer many of their queries. Sumita Pal, WOS-A, DST, Government of India, Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Banaras Hindu University, India
The course module has enabled me to have a broader outlook on environmental issues and to grasp the great effects that simple acts have on the environment The first valuable aspect of the Green Salary course was the fact that the course had been organised in an excellent manner, having separate modules for each field of interest, which helps a lot in understanding and using the information. From now on I will keep in mind the opportunity to participate or promote such initiatives as an environmentally conscious citizen. Once again, I appreciate you and your team. Gargi Sharma, Climate Change Specialist, SENES Consultants Ltd., India
Natural Resources 2010
The material is rich in content with references, which helps me gain information in an easy way. I am working in the field of environmental education, environmental Psychology, etc. The material provides an overview of three major natural resources and their management issues. In my work, all the topics are equally valuable. From my personal experience, I have seen how rich forest resources have been exploited and ill-managed. The trend is continuous and seems alarming. The management issues discussed in the literature outlined many aspects quite comprehensively. It seems that only a discussion in an international level aiming at a pragmatic approach can resolve many issues of conservation of forest resources. There are lots of management techniques and issues on soil and water discussed in the literature. I can say I can relate the text to my personal experience. But what more does it say? The lessons tell me how to solve many of the problems through simple change in managerial action. I face the problem in addressing resource management when I want to integrate the fact that resources are shared and distributed inequitably both by natural and man-made influence. But is it the rote of exploitation? That people having less want more and more want more too. Can education successfully foster and impregnate the seed of the attitude of a just use of resources? If possible, then to what extent have I to read further? Saurav Shome, Research Scholar, Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education (TIFR), India
Sustainable Agriculture 2010
The material is rich in content with references, which helps me gain information in an easy way. I am working in the field of environmental education, environmental psychology, etc. The material provides an overview of the present environmental crisis due to unsustainable agricultural practices and the EU’s response, in particular, in addressing the crisis. In my work, all the topics are equally valuable. For me to understand the EU Common Agricultural Policy completely is a difficult task. To understand the implications of policy, I need to know the context: social, economic and historical. For this, I need further supplementary readings. Saurav Shome, Research Scholar, India
Sustainable Forest Protection and Management 2011-2013
The course material is good and the information is very valuable. The course material on sustainable development and management of forests is useful in my academic work, as it provides good information about forest management which is very useful for further studies and also elucidates many unknown aspects which will enrich my knowledge. Shamshad Ahmad, MSc. Student, Baba Sahib Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, India
The course is highly informative and helped me to understand concepts that are vital to my present work. The material is very clear and easy to understand, which helped me to go through the entire course easily, even though I was involved in my work. Sonali Pradhan, Senior Research Fellow, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, India
The material was very lucid, highly informative and useful for understanding current environmental problems and their possible solutions. The course has helped me to pursue my current research work. Parth Sarathi Mahapatra, Project Associate – II, Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR), India
The material which was available during the course is excellent and had enormous significance by addressing many issues in a lucid and presentable way. The information was exhaustive and will be of enormous help for my teaching at the UG/PG level. As I am involved with education and research pertaining to the management of forest soil, many issues will be an asset for me. Amitava Rakshit, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
The material which was available during the course was excellent and had enormous significance towards addressing many debated issues in a lucid and presentable way. The information was exhaustive. As I am involved with research pertaining to natural resource management, many issues will be an asset for me to face the audience in the classroom and make me confident to answer many of their queries. Sumita Pal, Department of Mycology and Plant pathology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
