Energy and Climate Change; Science, Policy and Economics

Course manual 2019/2020

Course content

This course focuses on the inseparable links between energy use and climate change and, consequently, the unavoidable connection between energy and environmental policy. The entire course is truly multi-disciplinary, in the sense that the challenges associated with the subject matter of energy and climate change are simultaneously taught from a natural scientific, public policy and general economics perspective. Through an examination of this subject, this course also explores three closely-related themes that exemplify the complexity of the interaction between science and technology on the one hand and economics and public policy on the other hand: the challenges of achieving political acceptance, both nationally and internationally, of scientific consensus in the face of ever-present scientific uncertainty; the extent and the limitations of science as a driving force for public policy; and the role of technological development in influencing political choices.

Study materials

Other

• Literature references

• Background material

• Sheets of lectures

Objectives

• Achieve understanding of the multi-disciplinary dimensions of the challenge of mitigating global climate change, in terms of science, policy and economics
• Comprehend the technological, political and economic obstacles that need to be overcome to transform energy supply into a more sustainable energy system
• Identify more broadly the challenges regarding the implementation of sustainable development and the transition towards a sustainable world
• Recognize the institutions relevant for the implementation of sustainable energy solutions, particularly in view of controlling climate change

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Self-study
• Presentation/symposium
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis

The course consists of a series of lectures, in which students are expected to play an active role, i.e. prepare presentations and participation in class discussion.

Learning activities

Attendance

This programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (TER part B).

Additional requirements for this course:

Attendance of the meetings is compulsory. If a student is absent more than once, he/she is in principle excluded from receiving credits for the course, unless it is caused by an explained emergency or an inevitable overlap with the compulsory masters programme. At all times the coordinator and corresponding lecturer need to be informed of absence during any of the classes.

Assessment

Examination

When registered for the course, students are automatically registered for the examination elements of the course, i.e. the grading of the class participation, the student presentation and the three papers. A low score on one examination element can be compensated with higher grades for the others. To complete the course successfully, your weighed grade should be 5.55 minimally.

Second chance

In case (and only in case) the final score is graded below 5.6, an improved version of one of the three papers can be turned in. That is, only when all other required elements of the course have been met, including presence in class and meeting paper deadlines. If this second opportunity is skipped, the deadline for the re-try is not met, or it is met but no overall grade of > 5.5 is achieved, the whole course has to be taken again the following year (see Table 1).

Table 1: Assessment of the various examination elements 

If students have valid reasons for not being able to meet (one of) the required elements (presence, assignments) they have to send an e-mail to the coordinator to explain the student’s case. If the circumstances are addressed as sufficiently valid, the solution is discussed on an individual basis. Communication about personal circumstances have to take place before the given deadline.

Assignments

Student presentation

• 10% of the overall grade is based on a presentation ('pitch') treating a reference in the extra reading list of two minutes sharp, plus one minute discussion.

       - Summarize a reference in reading list (1 slide)

       - Comment and criticize the article/report (1 slide)

  Each student can in principle chose his or her favorite topic from the optional reading list, with the restriction that each topic can only be presented twice. Registration for topics operates on a first-come first-choice basis. Students needs to register for their presentations before Friday 15 November at 9.00 AM. The presentations are on Friday 15 November between 9:00 and 15:00.

First short paper

• The first paper should be based on the topics covered in the lectures of Dr. ir. John van Boxel. The deadline for the first paper is Wednesday 20 Nov at 9.00 AM. Short paper of max. 1000 words (max. 2 pages), counts for 20% of the total grade and must be based on at least one main publication from the required or optional reading list. The paper needs to be mailed to Dr. ir. John van Boxel (J.H.vanBoxel@uva.nl).

   

Second short paper

• The second paper should be based on the topics covered in the lectures of Prof. dr. Marc Davidson. The deadline for the second paper is Saturday 7 Dec at 9.00 AM. Short paper of max. 1000 words (max. 2 pages), counts for 20% of the total grade and must be based on at least one main publication from the required or optional reading list. The paper needs to be mailed to Prof. dr. Marc Davidson (M.D.Davidson@uva.nl)

   

Third short paper

• The third paper should be based on one publication from the extra reading list. The deadline for this third and last paper is Tuesday 17 Dec at 9.00 AM. Short paper of max. 1000 words (max. 2 pages), counts for 20% of the total grade. The paper needs to be mailed to Prof. dr. Marc Davidson (M.D.Davidson@uva.nl)

   

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Additional information

While most of the participating students are likely to have done prior studies in the natural, earth or environmental sciences, they are not necessarily expected to possess a background in science and technology in general or in environment or energy science specifically. Readings and lectures provide that background as necessary. In other words, this course is in principle also open for students with a background in e.g. political or social sciences but with an interest in the subject matter of energy and climate change.

The skills we dó expect you to have acquired beforehand is that you are able to demonstrate your ability to interpret used concepts and theories correctly and to argue adequately, reason logically and scientifically, and write clearly and consistently (see Appendix A). This has to be reflected in both your oral assignments (class participation and student presentation) and written assignments (short papers).

Students who have a deficiency in any of those skills, are advised to repair their shortcomings via the Deficiency Skills Labs that we offer:

• A Deficiency Skills Lab on Recognizing Social Theories.
• A Deficiency Skills Lab on Critical Thinking & Scientific Argumentation.

Both Skills Labs take the form of a self-tuition module (see the Canvas site of the course Research Workshop of the Master Earth Sciences. For those of you who are not Earth Sciences’ students, contact Dr. Coyan Tromp via j.c.tromp@uva.nl to obtain more information about both these Skills Lab and the one mentioned below).

Moreover, you are advised to participate in the concomitant Skills Lab Writing an Academic Essay, where you will be able to further practice your skills with regard to academic writing.

For those of you who feel they need some extra support on their Presentation Skills, we advise you to do a self-tuition Deficiency Skills Lab on Presentation / Rhetoric, see www.coursera.org/ course/thinkagain.

Contact information

Coordinator

• prof. dr. Marc Davidson

Staff

• dr. ir. J.H. van Boxel