Engineering A Greener Future
Careers 360|April 2017

Environmental engineering can be an interesting option for engineering aspirants with a ‘green’ mindset...

Megha Aggarwal
Engineering A Greener Future

Traditionally, environmental engineering was a branch of civil engineering and was variously called sanitary engineering and public health engineering. However, with the coming of dedicated higher education options in environment during the 1980s, it found its own niche.

Today, the stream is a widely offered higher education option and finds many takers. “Environmental engineering may not be the most popular choice among aspiring engineers, but there is no dearth of opportunities in it and increasingly a number of students are opting for it. Today, I have many students who are working in this field,” reveals Prof. Sudha Goel, who teaches environmental engineering at the Dept. of Civil Engineering in IIT Kharagpur.

A multidisciplinary subject

Environmental engineering is a multidisciplinary subject that borrows ideas from different sciences as well as fields of engineering to understand environmental issues and engineer design solutions for these, for example, by creating a landfill or a waste water plant.

Typically, a programme in this discipline will include concepts from physics, chemistry and biology as well as Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical Engineering. Apart from this, students will also learn about impact assessment, environmental management and audit. However, most modules will be geared towards developing a comprehensive understanding of different forms of pollution, managing environmental resources and controlling waste.

Undergraduate Vs Postgraduate

Although environmental engineering is generally offered as a postgraduate specialisation, a handful of institutes also offer it at the undergraduate level.

This story is from the April 2017 edition of Careers 360.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 2017 edition of Careers 360.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM CAREERS 360View All
The 50 colleges in 5 countries where most Indians go for MBBS abroad
Careers 360

The 50 colleges in 5 countries where most Indians go for MBBS abroad

Data on countries and colleges from the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) 2022 - the latest available - shows that most Indians who completed medical degrees abroad and wrote the FMGE went to five countries.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 2024
Foreign medical colleges: Look before you leap
Careers 360

Foreign medical colleges: Look before you leap

A close look at foreign medical colleges that thousands of Indians have graduated from shows that many are unaccredited, don’t have hospitals or even their own websites

time-read
7 mins  |
May 2024
'Either I clear FMGE or leave the country'
Careers 360

'Either I clear FMGE or leave the country'

After spending lakhs on MBBS degrees abroad, thousands spend years trying to clear the FMGE. That is the only option for Indian graduates of foreign medical colleges to build a career in India

time-read
7 mins  |
May 2024
Why hundreds of nursing graduates leave India each year
Careers 360

Why hundreds of nursing graduates leave India each year

There has been an increase in nursing institutes over the past two decades but policy gaps, lax regulations, poor pay and opportunities are pushing a large number of nursing staff to seek opportunities abroad

time-read
8 mins  |
May 2024
In Kashmir, why NEET and JEE candidates flock to private reading halls to prepare for exams
Careers 360

In Kashmir, why NEET and JEE candidates flock to private reading halls to prepare for exams

These are accessible round-the-clock, even on public holidays, have private cabins and booths, kitchen, discussion area and some, even places for napping

time-read
4 mins  |
May 2024
Battling despair and depression in medical school
Careers 360

Battling despair and depression in medical school

Long hours, bullying, lack of support make a difficult programme tougher for medical students. They hope for clear guidelines from the NMC

time-read
5 mins  |
May 2024
This father-daughter duo uncovered a scam in NEET admissions in West Bengal
Careers 360

This father-daughter duo uncovered a scam in NEET admissions in West Bengal

Several generalcategory students had secured admission in medical colleges with forged ST certificates. Ishita Soren spotted the names, and her father followed up

time-read
4 mins  |
May 2024
'Forced to take up bonded labour
Careers 360

'Forced to take up bonded labour

There's massive resistance to a state policy in Karnataka that requires even private medical college graduates to do one year's mandatory rural service

time-read
6 mins  |
May 2024
‘A routine circus': PG medical students lobby, move court to get stipends
Careers 360

‘A routine circus': PG medical students lobby, move court to get stipends

Despite NMC orders, many medical colleges still seriously underpay resident doctors and threaten them into silence. In government colleges, stipends can be delayed for months

time-read
5 mins  |
May 2024
Why Mizoram wants centre to take over its only medical college
Careers 360

Why Mizoram wants centre to take over its only medical college

Mizoram got its first state medical college in 2018. In 2023, it asked the union government to take over. Mixed up in this are questions of funding, MBBS seat distribution

time-read
6 mins  |
May 2024