KOUT 2100 - Modeling in Environmental Policy and Decision Making

Science and politics are closely interconnected, with their relationship becoming most evident in times of natural disasters. The purpose of this course is to present the models used by both scientists and decision-makers to understand, try to anticipate, and manage such catastrophes. We will cover disasters either geological (volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis), weather/climatic (hurricanes/cyclones/typhoons, storms, droughts, floods), or biological/ecological (epidemics, invasions of species).

We will identify the common points and the challenges specific to each of these catastrophes.

The objective of the course is to provide the language to understand scientists, as well as a solid foundation on the state of the art in the modeling of these phenomena. Emphasis will be placed on how models can be used to anticipate and guide decision-making, but also on their limitations.

Learning Outcomes:

• Knowledge: understanding of the way scientists tackle natural catastrophes and the language being used.
• Knowledge: understanding of the timescales of scientific research and the existence of controversies.
• Skill: state of the art mathematical models used for modeling natural disasters.

Professional Skills

Students will learn how to interact with scientists and with the scientific literature and extract the key information to guide decision and policy making.

A very basic scientific knowledge or an interest in science: curiosity is the key!

Feedback will be provided through direct interaction on a weekly basis during tutorials and based on evaluation, both for the midterm evaluation and the final project.

The course is assessed on the basis of a midterm evaluation (1/3rd of the mark) in class and a final project (2/3rd of the mark). The final project is prepared in pairs and takes the form of a written report followed by an oral poster presentation (open to all students in the class).

• In Class Presence: 4 hours every other week / 24 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 3 hours a week / 36 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 3 hours a week / 36 hours a semester
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 4,5 hours a week / 54 hours a semester