Highlights of the ongoing academic year - 08 -09
Field Visits
Visit to understand work done for Plant Conservation
Botanical Survey of India is a Governmental organization which deals with the plant sector of the living organisms. The aim of the visit was to make the students aware of the work done in the field of plant conservation. Students were explained how to carry out referencing work if they find any plant product in the nature. Preservation of specimen, chemicals used for this purpose, methods of doing this was also elaborated.
Visit to understand work done for Animal Conservation
Zoological Survey of India, as the premier national organization (Government Agency), has been engaged in field survey and laboratory investigation on faunal resources of India for last more than 85 years. The aim of this visit was to introduce students to the work done by some of the premier institutions of India in the field of biodiversity conservation. Dr. Patil and Dr. Anil Mahabal, scientists at the ZSI explained the role of the ZSI, techniques used in ZSI for preservation of species for scientific and study purposes. They also explained procedures and persons to be contacted if species were found dead as well as ways to reach and access ZSI facilities. Students got an opportunity to see the museum where various animals, birds and reptiles are preserved.
Visit to understand Forest Ecosystem
The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri mountains, is a mountain range along the western side of India.The Western Ghats extend from the Satpura Range in the north, go south past Goa, through Karnataka and into Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The forests in Mulshi are home to a wide range of species. The aim of the field visit was to understand forests as an ecosystem and study species that are rare, endemic and habitat specialists in the area, understand the importance of sacred groves etc
Visit to understand techniques in Conservation Biology
Rehekuri Blackbuck
Sanctuary is situated at Karjat taluka
in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra. It spans over
2 sq km of dry deciduous scrub forest. Mainly established to preserve
blackbuck, this sanctuary also supports chinkara,
wolf and Indian fox. Aim of the visit was to study various field techniques
such as quadrant study for vegetation sampling, blackbuck count, population census by block count method etc. The students
carried out a PRA in the local village to understand man wildlife conflicts.
Visit to understand Mangrove Ecosystem
Major mangroves in Mumbai are along the Vasai Creek and Thane Creek. One of the major Mangrove Park in India is present at Vikhroli. It consists of around 1750 acres of mangrove cover. It is a good example of habitat conserved against highest urbanization pressures. It is one of the habitats protected even before any legislation was passed in this country. The mangrove is home to around a wide range of biodiversity including 14 species of mangroves and mangrove associates. The aim of the visit was to understand the structure and functioning of mangrove ecosystems. Mumbai is estimated to have lost 40 per cent of all its mangroves in the past decade. Thus the visit aimed at understanding what can be done in order to protect such important natural heritages.
Visit to study the Water
Treatment Plant
Water is one the utmost requirement after air. Water Treatment Plant (WTP) takes care of the potable water supply for the whole city or Town. The students were taken Parvati Water Treatment Plant, Singhgad Road. WTP basically has screens, coagulation flocculation tanks or clariflocculators, filters, disinfection units etc. This field visit gave students a deep understanding of performance and working of the various units.
Visit to study the Sewage Treatment
Plant
Wastewater Management of a city or town plays a very important role in Urban Planning. Students were taken to Koregaon Sewage Treatment Plant. This plant has screens, grit chambers, coagulation flocculation tanks or clariflocculators, Activated sludge units, Sludge Digester, Sludge Thickener, etc. This plant also generates 50% of energy from the sludge which is used for Activated Sludge Process itself. In this visit the students also learnt about the energy management.
Visit to study
various laboratory equipments
The visit was organized to Pune Municipal Corporation Environmental Monitoring Laboratory. Students learnt about various aspects related to applications of Environmental Chemistry through this field visit. The visit gave them an insight into the air, water and solid waste, pollution caused because of the air and water parameters. The laboratory equipments such as High Volume Sampler, Gas Chromatograph, HPLC etc were shown to them.
Extra curricula activities
Sports
Athletics
Cross Country – University Level
Kuldeep Gurav
5000 mts – All India Ashwamegh
Kuldeep Gurav won a Silver Medal
Football – University Level
Jeery Joy
Dhurva Rajan
Football – Intercollege Level
Jeery Joy
Dhurva Rajan
Mangal Pandey
Ajinjkya Bhatkar
Kuldeep Gurav
Karthikeyan H
Pradeep Desai
Yogesh Mendhe
Ram Trivedi
Vivek Tumsare
Bhaskar Padigala
Roshan Bhagat
Hrushikesh Khole
Rahangdale
Volleyball – Intercollege Level
Ajinjkya Bhatkar
Jerry Joy
Kuldeep Gurav
Dhruva Rajan
Karthikeyan H
Pradeep Desai
Yogesh Mendhe
Ujwal Vir Singh
Chess – Intercollege Level
Mangal Pandey
Pradeep Desai
Prajakta Shinde
Volunteers at the Common Youth Games - 2008
The III Commonwealth Youth Games was held in Pune from the 12th to 18th October 2008. With increasing environmental concerns across the globe and the need to make the public aware of ways to protect and preserve the environment, the Green Games initiative was launched as a part of the Commonwealth Youth Games, Pune - 2008. It focused on environmental program on such as waste management and an anti-litter campaign, sustainable transport and public awareness and mobilisation campaigns etc.
Shaista Beg, Madhumita Panighari, Roshan Bhagat, Ajinjkya Bhatkar, Ujwal Vir Singh and Riki Borkakoty were the students from Institute of Environment Education and Research, Bharati Vidyapeeth University who took part as volunteers and mainly focused on the issue of waste management.
CMS VATAVARAN 2008
Centre for Media Studies, Institute OF Environment Education and Research, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, International Cultural Exchange and Wildlife portraits jointly organised Vatavaran, an environment and Wildlife film festival between December 5 and 7. BVIEER was the Knowledge Partner for the event. This year’s theme was ‘Climate Change’. The festival displayed over 29 films based on environment, wildlife and issues related to the same.
The following students from Institute of Environment Education and Research, Bharati Vidyapeeth University took part as volunteers for the same.
Hrushikesh Khole, Ajinjkya Bhatkar, Jerry Joy, Kanchan, Manjiri Deshkar, Ketan Gunda, Kuldeep Gurav, Ratish Natrajan, Sagar Kawde, Swapnada Sable and Ganesh Chinchikar.
School programs
Environment Education is the need of the hour. In order to save our Earth from the impact of our actions, every citizen needs to take responsibility of their actions. Volunteers were appointed as Environment Educators as part of the DNA Club Program. The students have to visit a particular school and conduct various modules for the students of 5th to 9th. This helped them developed their communication and presentation skills. The following students volunteered for the program Smita Mehetre, Sayali Jagtap, Sayali Dongre, Nivedita Kulkarni, Pallavi Barua, Premanjali Rai, Jerry Joy, Kshipra Kulkarni and Prajakta Chiplunkar.