Department of Environmental Science

The Department of Environmental Science at Nanjing University was established in 1984. It was formerly composed of members from the Department of Biology, Department of Chemistry, Department of Geography, Department of Geology and other related disciplines at Nanjing University. It is one of the earliest institutions in China to set up undergraduate programs, master programs, doctoral programs, and postdoctoral programs in environmental science and engineering. The department has two major branches: environmental chemistry and environmental biology. There are 37 faculty members, including 24 professors and 12 associate professors. Nearly half of the faculty members have doctoral degrees received overseas. There are 4 winners of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, 1 Changjiang Scholar of the Ministry of Education, 1 winner of the National Youth Talent Program of the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, 2 winners of the Young Changjiang Scholars of the Ministry of Education, 9 winners of the National Excellent Youth Science Fund, 3 winners of the Jiangsu Provincial Outstanding Youth Fund, and 2 winners of the Jiangsu Provincial Outstanding Youth Fund.

Relying on the national key discipline "Environmental Science", the Department of Environmental Science has formed distinctive characteristics among domestic sibling departments. Based on the concept of "comprehensive training, strengthening the foundation, and teaching students in accordance with their aptitude", the department pays attention to fundamental knowledge, such as mathematics, foreign language, and environmental studies. It strengthens the teaching of professional courses, such as environmental monitoring, environmental chemistry, environmental biology, environmental engineering, computer science. While systematically learning the basic theoretical knowledge of environmental science, actively develop students' practical ability, and cultivate environmental science and management professionals with solid theoretical knowledge, strong logical thinking and innovation ability, and high comprehensive quality.

The Department of Environmental Science has comprehensive research directions, including environmental chemistry, soil pollution and remediation, environmental analytical chemistry, ecotoxicology, global climate change, ecological health, food safety, environmental biotechnology, etc. It involves the major challenges in environmental protection, with distinctive features and in line with social and economic needs.

The Department of Environmental Science is active in international collaborations. It has established long-term cooperative relations with the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Community, Australia, Japan and South Korea, and established the "International Environmental Research Center (IIES)", "Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Journal Asia Editorial Office" and other international cooperation and exchange platforms. It actively send teachers and students to visit and study in foreign universities. Since 2008, outstanding undergraduates and postgraduates have been selected to go to universities in Europe and the United States every year for exchange.

The Department of Environmental Science insists on integrating theory with practice, and pays attention to the practicality of personnel training. It has trained a large number of scientists, engineers and technicians, senior managers, and entrepreneurial talents, and has made outstanding contributions to the country in terms of talent training in the field of environmental science. Graduates are suitable for teaching, scientific research, environmental management, and other fields. Compared with similar majors at home and abroad, the characteristics of environmental science at Nanjing University are mainly reflected in the collaborative training of basic knowledge of the discipline, professional skills, and innovation and entrepreneurship capabilities, and the deep integration and mutual feeding of industry-university-research. The graduates of this department are well-received by employers, and gradually grow into scientists, managers, and entrepreneurs.