BIO9905CEES1 – Effect Studies and Adaptation to Climate Change
Course content
Individuals and institutions across the Nordic region are becoming increasingly aware of how heavily ecological and physical systems are linked to social, economic and political systems. Understanding these connections is now becoming even more critical as global threats, such as climate change, threaten to fundamentally alter the balance between these systems. Thus, there is a need to educate young researchers to combine ecological, physical and social perspectives. This course will serve this function by combining expertise from a range of disciplines for a comprehensive look at climate impacts on biological and social systems across the Nordic region. This course is organized by a cross-disciplinary partnership between three new Nordic Centres of Excellence (NorMER, NORD-STAR and TUNDRA) to educate graduate students on a wide range of climate issues facing the world today, with a particular focus on the Nordic region.
Learning outcome
This course has 2 primary components: (1) the education of young researchers on the ecological and social impacts and adaptation of climate change in the Nordic region through lectures and activities organized by and with top researchers on climate and climate impacts, (2) Training young researchers to combine physical, biological, and social science perspectives to better understand the methods and tools for addressing climate change impacts and adaptation. Specific themes include: (1) physical and chemical climate change processes, (2) climate change impacts on Nordic marine ecosystems, (3) climate change impacts on terrestrial ecosystems, (4) climate change policy and action.
Admission
PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb.
If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.
PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
No obligatory prerequisites beyond the minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway.
Teaching
This is an intensive course over five days (May 7th-11th)
The first four days involve lectures organized by theme (before lunch), and afternoon group workshops during which students develop interdisciplinary lectures. Day 5 lectures are given by the students. Within two weeks the students will submit a paper, on a topic to be determined at the course.
Examination
Students are graded on their participation in the group workshops, their lecture presentations and the submitted paper.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.