TEK9450 ¨C Interdisciplinary Research for Sustainability: A Toolkit for the Energy Transition

Course content

The energy system is undergoing a fundamental change from being carbon intensive to zero carbon so as to achieve the goals according to the Paris Agreement of limiting global mean surface temperature rise to well below 2 ¡ãC. Typically, energy-related questions are answered by a single discipline and lead to decisions & solutions that are not optimal when assessed in an integrative, interdisciplinary approach. This course provides early career researchers the opportunity to acquire a toolkit for interdisciplinary research.

As the course is organised by the EMPOWER project, EV batteries will be discussed from different lenses, including user behaviour, market, regulation, material, and technologies.? Achieving sustainable EV batteries is related to far-reaching socio-technical transitions in many sectors of the economy. Thus, this course will adopt an interdisciplinary and systemic approach to examining the role of EV batteries in sustainable development, energy transitions, and zero-emission e-mobility in the socio-spatial context of Norway and providing students with a broad understanding of both the challenges and opportunities of a path to sustainability.

This course will draw on a synthesis of different approaches and disciplines for sociotechnical transitions in e-mobility. ?Students have opportunities to try out or deepen their competencies by taking an interdisciplinary approach to the complex phenomenon of EV batteries in the socio-spatial context of e-mobility in Norway by combining insights from different strands of literature, e.g., Regulatory Ecology, Sustainability Transitions, Hotspot Analysis, Institutional Analysis, Modelling, etc. It will bring together students from different disciplines and provide them with deeper insights into the work of other disciplines. The course will apply a research-led teaching philosophy based on the ongoing outcome of the EMPOWER research project.

Learning outcome

After completing this course, you will be able to

• demonstrate knowledge of sustainability concepts from natural science (material sciences, mathematical modeling) and social sciences (law, psychology, and anthropology)
• provide examples of how disciplines may complement each other in the course of formulating and answering research questions
• identify and demonstrate different forms of collaboration and analyse why and when forms are appropriate
• read and analyse state-of-the-art academic literature in the field of sustainability
• compare and contrast the perspectives of different actors, for instance, governments and industry, in sustainable energy transitions
• map and explore the complexity of the energy transition
• communicate and present complex sustainability issues to an interdisciplinary audience

Admission to the course

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.

The course is limited to 20 students.

Priority will be given to

1. PhD students at UiO with a topic related to sustainability
2. PhD students at UiO
3. Other PhD students

Teaching

The course applies a mix of teaching & learning methods. Traditional methods (lectures and interactive seminars) will be combined with peer collaborative methods (action learning groups, discussion groups, site visits, final paper) to support learning. Whenever possible site visit of relevant industry will be organised. The course material and discourses of the course will be largely based on the ongoing research outcome of the EMPOWER project.

The course requires regular class attendance, active learning, and participation in reading-based discussions throughout the semester. There will be a strong emphasis on increasing the research skills of PhD candidates who are required to read and discuss published research articles critically, reflecting on the topics discussed in the class. The aim is to provide an environment that enables PhD candidates to increase their analytical skills both through their own personal performance and by interacting with other students. Multiple assessment methods will be used to explore learning and performance.?

Examination

• A portfolio assessment, including a final oral presentation, counts 100% toward the final grade.

When writing your exercises make sure to familiarize yourself with the rules for use of sources and citations. Breach of these rules may lead to suspicion of attempted cheating.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about?the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.