The Department of Environmental Science was established in 1985. Initially the department functions as a research unit followed by ‘M.Phil. in Ecology’ in the year 1990. Finally in 1998 the department has started M.Sc in Environmental Science which was the first master degree programme in Environmental Science from West Bengal. The Department of Environmental Science, University of Kalyani presently offers M.Sc, M.Phil and Ph.D Degrees. The Environmental Science is a multidisciplinary subject and finds immense application area to the society. The faculty members from different branches of science are engaged in teaching and interdisciplinary research works with national and international collaborations. The major teaching and research areas are basic and applied ecology, pollution studies, environmental chemistry, bioremediation, landscape ecology, geomorphology, geohydrology, remote sensing, resource studies, atmospheric science, environmental biotechnology, environmental toxicology etc.
The department also has ENVIS Centre supported by MoEF & CC, Govt. of India. Faculties of the department received research projects from various funding agencies. They actively participated in various collaborative programmes & performed the task of investigator of research projects funded by UGC, DST, MoEF & CC, CSIR, ICFRE, DNES, DoE (Govt. of West Bengal) & IUC-DAE-programme. The department has received good infrastructural support and instrumental facilities from DST – FIST (Level-I), UGC and DST- PURSE programmes. A good number of students have been qualified in national level (NET) and competitive examinations. Students have received different scholarships, like, Kanyashree, Minority Fellowship, Moulana Azad Fellowship, Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-means, RG research scholarship, DST INSPIRE, UGC, URS, CSIR, WBDST, MoEF & CC, WOS-B (IM), KIRAN-SoRF, DST, New Delhi. The basic, advanced laboratories and instrumental facilities are available in the department.
The level of academic excellence which the department has acquired at present makes it possible for our students to get entry into higher studies and service sectors at different reputed institutions as well as industries. Alumni of this department are distributed in reputed organizations. The prime initiative of the department is to upgrade the academic quality of students coming from rural and backward areas. Our course curriculum includes regular classes using advanced technology in teaching and learning processes, tutorial class through interactive session, mentoring students groups, field visit, educational tours for industrial and environmental exposure.
The department is actively involved to organize outreach programmes viz. environmental awareness, tree plantation, environment day celebration and sensitization programme in schools and rural areas. The department will be a common platform for interdisciplinary teaching, research and scientific communication and play a potential role in technology transfer with lab-to-land approach for societal benefits.