Syllabus
Registration via LPIS
| Day | Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 10/06/16 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | D5.1.002 |
| Thursday | 10/13/16 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | D5.1.002 |
| Thursday | 10/20/16 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | D5.1.002 |
| Thursday | 10/27/16 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | D5.1.002 |
| Thursday | 11/03/16 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | D5.1.002 |
| Thursday | 11/10/16 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | D5.1.002 |
| Thursday | 11/17/16 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | D5.1.002 |
| Thursday | 11/24/16 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | D5.1.002 |
| Friday | 11/25/16 | 11:30 AM - 01:30 PM | EA.5.030 |
| Thursday | 12/01/16 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | D5.1.002 |
| Thursday | 12/15/16 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | D5.1.002 |
| Thursday | 12/22/16 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | D5.1.002 |
| Thursday | 01/12/17 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | D5.1.002 |
| Thursday | 01/19/17 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | D5.1.002 |
| Thursday | 01/26/17 | 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM | D5.1.002 |
| Thursday | 02/02/17 | 08:00 AM - 12:30 PM | D5.1.002 |
The course introduces and critically examines some of the most widely used methodologies, methods and models for informing environmental policy and implementation across scales. By focussing on the nexus between methods and policy and practice, we assess critically how decision-support for socio-ecological problems may be effective. We draw connections to the underlying philosophy behind methodologies and methods including their ontological and epistemological foundations.
• Understand the nexus between theories, models, methods and policies
• Understand and apply some of the most widely used methods and modelling frameworks for the analysis of environmental change
• Improved ability to critically evaluate methods and develop an ability to judge why some methods are more suitable than others for socio-ecological economic analysis
• Understand how ecological economic analyses can input into decision making processes in different contexts
• Attain a higher level of understanding about the workings of climate governance structures and public policy instruments
• Develop an ability to analyse strengths and weaknesses of existing environmental governance structures
• Understand different framings in the science-policy interface and develop ideas for alternative approaches
• As one focus area, be aware of different perspectives taken on the green economy discourse incl. implicit and explicit assumptions
• Lecture-style input (in-class as well as lecturecast)
• Group exercises
• Individual hands-on exercises
• Group debate
• Journal and guiding questions
• Practice clinics
Formal grading (summative assessment) will occur through a joint paper (take-home), two short individual academically-oriented papers and your contribution to a common good (wiki); formative assessment will take place throughout as well. Grades are broken down as follows:
• Group paper “Growth” 30%; due: 3 Nov 2016 9am
• Individual paper 1 “Physical Accounting“ 30%; due: 24 Nov 2016 9am
• Individual paper 2 “Systems Modelling“ 30%; due: 19 Jan 2017 9am
• Class Wiki “Science-Society Interface” 10%; due: 12 Feb 2017 midnight
These are strict deadlines! Submissions within 24 hours after the deadline will be accepted with a mark-down of 25% of points. Thereafter we will not accept any submissions. No exceptions.
All submissions via assignment section at Learn@WU.
For the Class Wiki “Science-Society Interface” 50% of the grade (=5% of your overall grade) will be based on the quality of the output and a further 50% of the grade (=5% of your overall grade) will be based on a brief report on the group process and distribution of tasks.
Prerequisites for Incoming Exchange Students nominated by WU partner universities:
Minimum requirements to attend this course:
• Economics (accumulated minimum of 16 ECTS credits) OR
• Social sciences (accumulated minimum of 16 ECTS credits) OR
• Mathematics / statistics / quantitative methods (accumulated minimum of 16 ECTS credits)
Proficiency in English is required. If you do not meet this requirement, we reserve the right to withdraw students from the course.
Rough guidance on the time that you are expected to allocate to this course
10 ECTS = 250 hours of work (60 minutes each)
The elements of this course were designed with the following timings in mind.
Class attendance (15 classes, 3 hours each) 45 hours
Weekly reading incl. journal writing (15 weeks, 3 hours each) 45 hours
Group paper “Growth” (30% of your grade) 48 hours
Individual paper 1 “Physical Accounting“ (30% of your grade) 48 hours
Individual paper 2 “Systems Modelling“ (30% of your grade) 48 hours
Class Wiki “Science-Society Interface” (10% of your grade) 16 hours
Total 250 hours
Obviously, these timings are merely rough estimates and may vary considerably between individuals (e.g. due to differences in prior knowledge, speed reading skills).
Be on time. Walking in late disturbs everyone. At this university and many places of employment, tardiness communicates lack of interest and lack of dependability. If you cannot avoid being late, make sure to be unobtrusive about your entry.
Please turn off and do not use mobile communication devices in class, you should be paying attention to the lecturer and class discussions, not communicating externally. Occasionally we will ask you to bring your laptop to class for some of the exercises. Also during these periods, we ask you to concentrate on the exercise and not communicate externally.
While it is acceptable – and for health reasons recommended – to bring your filled water bottle to class, we ask you to wait for the break or the end of class to refill it. Getting up and walking out during a session disturbs people and gives the impression that you don’t respect the class, the other students or the instructors.
If you must miss a class, contact Mr. Bruckner ahead of time to let him know that you will not be in class.
Do not dominate other students’ opportunities to learn by asking too many questions. It’s good to ask questions and make comments, but keep them related to the discussion at hand and allow also for space for others.
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