International Journal of Management, Technology, and Social SRINIVAS Sciences (IJMTS), ISSN: 2581-6012, Vol. 5, No. 1, May 2020. PUBLICATION Environmental Informatics: Potentialities in iSchools and Information Science & Technology Programs— An Analysis P. K. Paul1, Ricardo Saavedra2, P. S. Aithal3, Bashiru Aremu4, & Pappachan Baby5 1Executive Director, MCIS, Department of CIS, Information Scientist (Offg.), Raiganj University, India-733 134 2Director & Chair, International Inter-University Programs, Azteca University, México, America 3Vice Chancellor, Srinivas University, Karnataka-574 146 4Vice Chancellor, Crown University, Intl. Chartered Inc. (CUICI) Argentina Campus, South America-CP: 9400 5Head (Asian Region), Ballsbridge University, Dominica, North America-11019 Corresponding Author Email: [email protected] Area/Section: Technology Management. Type of the Paper: Exploratory Study. Type of Review: Peer Reviewed as per |C|O|P|E| guidance. Indexed in: OpenAIRE. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3841661. Google Scholar Citation: IJMTS. How to Cite this Paper: Paul, P. K., Ricardo, Saavedra., Aithal, P. S., Bashiru, Aremu., & Baby, Pappachan. (2020). Environmental Informatics: Potentialities in iSchools and Information Science & Technology Programs— An Analysis. International Journal of Management, Technology, and Social Sciences (IJMTS), 5(1), 238-250. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3841661. International Journal of Management, Technology, and Social Sciences (IJMTS) A Refereed International Journal of Srinivas University, India. © With Authors. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International License subject to proper citation to the publication source of the work. Disclaimer: The scholarly papers as reviewed and published by the Srinivas Publications (S.P.), India are the views and opinions of their respective authors and are not the views or opinions of the SP. The SP disclaims of any harm or loss caused due to the published content to any party. P. K. Paul., et al. (2020); www.srinivaspublication.com PAGE 238 International Journal of Management, Technology, and Social SRINIVAS Sciences (IJMTS), ISSN: 2581-6012, Vol. 5, No. 1, May 2020. PUBLICATION Environmental Informatics: Potentialities in iSchools and Information Science & Technology Programs— An Analysis P. K. Paul1, Ricardo Saavedra 2, P. S. Aithal3, Bashiru Aremu4, & Pappachan Baby5 1Executive Director, MCIS, Department of CIS, Information Scientist (Offg.), Raiganj University, India-733 134 2Director & Chair, International Inter-University Programs, Azteca University, México, America 3Vice Chancellor, Srinivas University, Karnataka-574 146 4Vice Chancellor, Crown University, Intl. Chartered Inc. (CUICI) Argentina Campus, South America-CP: 9400 5Head (Asian Region), Ballsbridge University, Dominica, North America-11019 Corresponding Author Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Environment is an alarming concern and valuable to all of us, as all of us belong to the environment and ecology in a different context. There are different studies available related to the environment and as far as Informatics is concerned, it is the field of practice and study related to the information systems and information activities using tools, techniques and technologies. The applications of Informatics in different areas and branches are important concerns viz. agriculture, healthcare, transport and tourism, education and training, government and administration, business and commerce; and in this context Environmental Informatics are important. This is the application of Informatics and Information Technologies in the environment and allied subjects. There are universities and academic bodies offering Environmental Informatics academic programs mainly from the environment and allied departments and units. Though, the field is a combination of both the areas and thus can be offered in Informatics or allied departments or bodies. As far as Informatics related branches are concerned important are IT, Information Systems, Information Management, Computer Sciences, etc. And in all these departments or units Environmental Informatics can be started as a Major or Specialization with proper educational policies. iSchools is an international consortium and body dedicated to combining all information related institutes, departments and programs under one roof with a focus on technologies for the societies and different sectors. Thus, the field of Environmental Informatics can be started easily in the iSchools. Furthermore, in recent past iSchools considered as the academic units offering information or IT related programs irrespective of their affiliation to the iSchools Organization, United States. This is maybe considered as a policy paper for the environmentalist, educationalist, IT educators to think about the potentialities of Environmental Informatics in Informatics or IT or simply iSchools related departments, programs, etc. Keywords: Environmental Informatics, IT, Computing, Environment, Interdisciplinary, Academic Innovation, iSchools. 1. INTRODUCTION : Donald Marchan, School of Information Studies, Syracuse University and During 1998 the iSchool originated by the Richard Lytle, College of Information Science following eminent educationalist and Information and Technology, Drexel University Professionals initially— They have joined hands for building a common Toni Carbo, School of Information Science, platform of information related departments or University of Pittsburgh; Information association called I-School Caucus. P. K. Paul., et al. (2020); www.srinivaspublication.com PAGE 239 International Journal of Management, Technology, and Social SRINIVAS Sciences (IJMTS), ISSN: 2581-6012, Vol. 5, No. 1, May 2020. PUBLICATION In 2001, ‘Gang of Five’ were noticeable from potentialities of offering Environmental ‘three’ and later on in 2003 several Information Informatics programs in the iSchools. related units joined and this way it creates a wider To know about the current scenario of listed arena of diverse information system practice with iSchools internationally including universities, keeping traditional information fundamentals. academic bodies, and countries. Some of the schools from the universities like To find out the possible specialization of University of North Carolina, Florida State Environmental Informatics in Information related University, Indiana University, University of units or programs i.e. iSchools and in iPrograms. Illinois, etc formed a group of ten. Later on, I- School teams changed the conventional name from 3. METHODS : I-School caucus to simply iSchools Organizations Current study entitled ‘Environmental Informatics: (i.e. Information Schools organization) with new Potentialities in iSchools and Information Science and much more sophisticated agenda. As the & Technology Programs—An Analysis’ is an organization is directly associated with the interdisciplinary works and combines with Information fields thus later on others including different Informatics/ Information Technology, Computing, IT, Electronics and Environmental Science, Educational Science, Telecommunication Schools joined with the Policy Studies etc. Thus, to do this study and iSchool Organization. As a result, different analysis different sources are used to gather information related programs started in the units knowledge. It includes the secondary sources, viz. ‘Information Science and Technology, primary sources. Further, studies undertaken using Information Management, Information Systems official website of iSchools Organization, United and Management and also existing Information States to learn about the basic, latest on information Science with new flavor/ approaches and related programs and potentialities on concentration [1], [13]. Environmental Informatics programs in the In these schools, different educational programs iSchools or any non-affiliating similar departments related to the information, technologies related to or departments. Government bodies related to the the information are offered. As Environmental education, IT also analyzed to learn their recent Informatics is an interdisciplinary program, thus in academic activities and potentialities. such schools the programs may be offered at 4. ISCHOOLS, IST AND ENVIRONMENTAL different levels and in different allied subfields of INFORMATICS : Environmental Informatics as well [2], [3], [14]. Growing technological and management 2. OBJECTIVE : components changes the entire world of exiting As this current paper is interdisciplinary and Information Science and also its closest field. educational in nature; thus, inherit with the Information technology and Computing bring this following aim and objectives— changes many new knowledge gradients now To learn about the basics of Environmental associated with Information Science [5]], [9], [15]. Informatics including its features, functions, and Hence some of the Universities and Institutes role. focused on Information Science even started newer To know about the stakeholders, technologies interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary component involved, and current educational programs on enriched Information Science and Technology, Environmental Informatics. Information Science and Engineering, Information To get the broad picture of Informatics and Science and Computing, Information Resource allied fields and potentialities to offer Management, Informatics etc [4], [7], [16]. Environmental Informatics in the Informatics