Syllabus
Registration via LPIS
Day | Date | Time | Room |
---|---|---|---|
Thursday | 10/05/17 | 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM | D5.1.003 |
Thursday | 10/12/17 | 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM | D5.1.004 |
Thursday | 10/19/17 | 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM | D5.1.003 |
Thursday | 11/02/17 | 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM | D5.1.003 |
Thursday | 11/09/17 | 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM | D5.0.001 |
Thursday | 11/16/17 | 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM | D5.1.004 |
Thursday | 11/23/17 | 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM | D5.1.004 |
Thursday | 11/30/17 | 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM | D5.1.004 |
Thursday | 12/07/17 | 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM | D5.1.004 |
Thursday | 12/14/17 | 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM | D5.1.002 |
Thursday | 12/21/17 | 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM | D5.1.004 |
Thursday | 01/11/18 | 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM | D5.1.004 |
Thursday | 01/18/18 | 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM | D5.1.004 |
Thursday | 01/25/18 | 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM | D5.1.004 |
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:. Every student should (i) submit three individual papers OR (ii) submit two individual papers and participate in a group paper.
- Individual paper 1 “Environmental Accounting“ 33.3%; due: Wed 15 Nov 2017 at 23:55
- Individual paper 2 “Growth” 33.3%; Monday 4th December 2017 at 23:55
- Individual paper 3 “Systems Modelling“ 33.3%; due: Mon 8 Jan 2017 at 23:55
- Group paper “Scenario Development and Multicriteria Appraisal” 33.3%; due: Fr 2 Feb 2018 at 23:55
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. Please remember to include all names in your submission.
You are expected to come to class prepared, i.e. having done the reading indicated with the respective class and undertaken other tasks assigned.
Additionally, we ask you to keep a Journal were you keep notes, note your questions and links to other fields. This should stimulate your active reading skills. While the journal will not be graded, keeping a journal is a condition for completing the course successfully. You can keep your journal in different formats (online in a dedicated space at Learn or in any other form that is useful for your learning; in the latter case, we ask you to hand in your journal at the end of the last class and we return it to you within 24 hours). Guiding questions for the journal:
- Science-Society Interface
- How to constitute effective, legitimate and credible interfaces?
- What are needs, opportunities and limitations of pluralistic methodologies and multiple lines of evidence for informing sustainability transitions across science-society?
- What are boundary subjects & objects?
- Methodological approaches and methods:
- What is the ontology and epistemology of the methodological approach/ method?
- What are the merits, limitations and problematic aspects?
- Of the problems that you would want to work on in the future, which method/methodology you find most suitable?
- What are criteria for high quality empirical ecological economic analyses?
For some guidance, you may want to orientate yourselves to the following questions:
- What are the concepts discussed in a lecture?
- How do these relate to (or contradict) other concepts or theories?
- Where do I see the need for clarification and want to provide clarifying explanations?
- Where do I agree or disagree and how can my (dis-)agreement be argued?
- What are societal implications of the discussed concepts?
This being a ‘Course with continuous Assessment (PI)’, the university requires students to attend at least 80% of all classes for completing the course successfully. This means that you cannot miss more than three sessions over the semester. Ideally you don’t miss any classes.
Classroom etiquette
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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