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Energy and Resource Management

Vak
2017-2018

Tags

EES

Admissions requirements

None.

Description

Fossil fuel supplies are rapidly declining. About 60% of Earth’s ecosystem services are being degraded or used unsustainably. Fresh water availability is falling. Species are becoming extinct at a rate that has not been seen since the last global mass-extinction event. Carbon emissions are continuing to increase globally. How can we begin to effectively address these issues? This course will provide an introduction to the field of natural resource management and the concept of sustainable development. Natural resources include both renewable resources (such as water, forests, wildlife) and non-renewable resources (such as fossil fuels).
This course adopts a systems framework that will allow us to explore the connections among different elements in the context of global environmental change, human needs and impacts, and the need to reframe and revitalize our current approaches to resource management. We will explore local and global resource and environmental issues such as the commodification of nature, the management of national parks and protected areas, food security, ethics, and our ability to ensure sustainable energy supplies. Throughout the Block, we will investigate practical solutions to address, or begin to address, these issues.

Course objectives

Upon completing this course students will be able to:

  • Understand the importance of various natural resources to human existence, in both a historical and contemporary context

  • Identify the challenges and opportunities in sustainable resource management

  • Identify and analyse the key issues in sustainable resource use in different geographical, cultural, and developmental contexts

  • Analyse a natural resource management issue from a local and global perspective

  • Understand the concepts, principles and practices discussed in class

  • Display a capacity to communicate effectively, both orally and in the written form, about energy and resource management issues

Timetable

Once available, timetables will be published here.

Mode of instruction

This course will proceed primarily as a seminar. Each class will include opening remarks/introductory lecture followed by a discussion of assigned readings, class activities, and student presentations. It is expected that students will engage actively in class discussions and debates.

Assessment

  • Discussion leader (written and oral): 20% (students do this once during the block – week 1-6)

  • Oral presentation: 25% (once during the block)

  • Offshore wind energy planning and development hearing: 35% (week 7)

  • Final research project: 20% (end of week 8)

Blackboard

There will be a Blackboard site available for this course. Students will be enrolled at least one week before the start of classes.

Reading list

Syllabus will be made available before the start of the course as there are a few short readings for the first seminar.

Registration

This course is open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Registration is coordinated by the Curriculum Coordinator. Interested non-LUC students should contact course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.

Contact

Dr. Bríd Walsh
b.m.walsh@luc.leidenuniv.nl

Remarks