Admission requirements
This course is obligatory for students of the MSc Industrial Ecology (joint degree TU Delft and Leiden University).
Description
This course provides knowledge on the Earth system as viewed through 4 spheres (biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere), including Earth’s evolution over the 4.5 billion years of its existence, and highlighting the importance of the carbon, nutrient, and water cycles for life on our planet. It introduces students to Earth and its resources, from a system dynamics perspective, and as a guiding analogy for sustainable systems. The course follows an interdisciplinary approach that blends biological, chemical, and physical perspectives not just qualitatively, but also quantitatively using Python programming. Finally, this course also introduces students to Earth system models, their capabilities, and limitations.
Course objectives
After completing this course, you will be able to:
DESCRIBE Earth’s 4 spheres, including how they interact and shape the Earth system.
DISCUSS the pressures currently affecting the Earth system.
USE Python to code to MODEL and INTERPRET basic aspects of the Earth system and system dynamics in general.
REPORT findings from individual codes and models.
DEMONSTRATE analytical, critical, and system’s thinking.
Timetable
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of instruction
The course will feature Lectures and workshops.
Lectures (included by invited guests) will introduce students to concepts and material, which will be complemented by readings and/or pre-recorded material. Lectures may also include interactive portions using Python programming and discussions with students.
The first week of the course will provide a crash course in Python programming. Weekly workshops will focus on learning and applying Python to Earth system problems, and will be used for students to work on assignments.
Assessment method
Take home individual assessment at the end of the course (5 out of 10 points).
1st Python assignment on temperature change and radiative forcing (2 out of 10 points).
2nd Python assignment on carbon dynamics (3 out of 10 points).
The take home individual assessment and assignment grades are rounded to the nearest decimal. Final grades are rounded to the nearest half. The grade 5,5 cannot be granted. Grades between 5,01 and 5,49 are rounded to 5,0 and grades between 5,50 and 5,99 are rounded to 6,0.
A feedback round will be performed in class for the 1st Python assignment. We will also provide a meeting time to discuss final grades 2 months after the end of the course.
A minimum success rate of 6 for the entire course is necessary to pass the course.
Note that retakes are only possible for the take home individual assessment.
Note 2: Due to evolving LLMs some of these assessments are subject to change.
Reading list
Readings are introduced throughout the lecture.
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Contact
Coordinator: Dr. J. Mogollón
Other involved teachers: dr. B. Mintjes
Remarks
MSc Industrial Ecology students can register for the course and exam via MystudyMap. Other students need to contact the study advisors of the programme via studyadvisor-ie@cml.leidenuniv.nl
Used software
This course will use a hybrid physical-online format and will be streamed using Kaltura, Zoom, or MS Teams (integrated into Brightspace). Course documents, the course manual can be found via Brightspace. To get access to the Brightspace page of this course, you first need to register via uSis. Communications for the course, including major announcements will go via Brightspace.
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.