COURSE INFORMATION: Students are enrolled in one of the following courses during the Summer term: GEOL 240: Water Resources and Pollution in the Developing World (for non-majors) - 4 credits -OR- GEOL 395: Water Resources and Pollution in the Developing World (for majors) - 4 credits Students will also be required to enroll in LNSA 101.01: Hindi Language and Indian Culture for Geology Study Abroad Students (1 cr.) during Spring 2016 Express II. This course will be taught by Ms. Mrunalini Karambelkar on Wednesdays from 4:20 pm-5:50 pm. PROGRAM INFORMATION: This course will focus on issues related to water resources and pollution along the Ganges River basin from the headwaters of the river in the Himalayas to its mouth near the Bay of Bengal. Water issues are critical to this region of India, and the river is seen as a critical economic, environmental, and cultural resource. The 2500-km long Ganges River in northern India is stressed due to large demand and cyclical, yet unpredictable, supply. This region has a population of over 700 million who speak different languages, have diverse cultures, and varied states of development, economic access, and planning, and diverse geologic and ecological settings. Poor river management, inconsistent precipitation during monsoons likely affected by climate change and pollution from insufficient waste management practices, and a burgeoning population has resulted in additional stress on the river and its ecosystems. This three-week travel-intensive study abroad course covers three important reaches of the river in the headwaters (Himalayan glaciers, steep mountain landscapes, and large hydroelectric dams in Uttarakhand state), the plains (industrial heartland an large population centers in Uttar Pradesh state), and the mouth (coastal development, Sunderbans mangrove forest, and coastal hazards near Bay of Bengal in West Bangal state). This course is timed to coincide with the pre-monsoon summer season to show students the importance of the monsoon season to the region. It has two focus areas: 1) water resource and hydrology principles that delve into specific issues, including impacts of river management for economic development and associated land use change effects on water resource availability, and 2) water quality principles that focused on natural and anthropogenic changes to the chemical character of the river water, and linkages between human and environmental health. Students should expect to experience extreme heat and humidity (100°F - typical summer conditions for northern India); cold and windy weather (30°F - typical conditions near higher elevations); high altitudes near glacier (up to 13,000 ft); trail hiking; and limited access to western-style facilities. Several immunizations are required. PROGRAM DIRECTORS: Dr. Timothy Callahan Department of Geology callahant@cofc.edu 843-953-8278 Dr. Callahan regularly teaches courses that include Hydrology, Water Resources, and Wetlands and Watersheds. One of his research foci is on policies, law, and social constructs (the human side of water resources), specifically how scientific information is used to shape decisions regarding water resource protection and distribution. Dr. Vijay Vulava Department of Geology vulavav@cofc.edu 843-953-1922 Dr. Vulava regularly teaches Pollution and Geochemistry themed courses aimed at freshman to graduate students. His research focus is contaminant fate and transport in water and soil environments. Drs. Callahan and Vulava have successfully led this course in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Between them, they have over 30 years of teaching and research experience in the fields of water resources, hydrology, pollution, and environmental geochemistry.
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Population: 1205073612 Capital: New Delhi Per-capita GDP: $ 3700 Size: 3287263 km2 Time Zone: (GMT + 05:30 hours) Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, New Delhi
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