Energy and Climate Change; Science, Policy and Economics

Course manual 2020/2021

Course content

This course focuses on the inseparable links between energy use and climate change and, consequently, the unavoidable connection between energy, science, finance, ethics, and public 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 financial perspective. Through an examination of these subjects, this course explores numerous closely-related themes that exemplify the complexity of human energy production, distribution, storage, and usage as it relates to the interaction between: (1) science/engineering, (2) finance/economics, (3) public policy, (4) environment/sustainability and (5) ethics (individual and collective).

Study materials

Other

• Literature references

• Background material

• Sheets of lectures

Objectives

• Achieve an understanding of the multi-disciplinary dimensions of the challenge of mitigating and managing energy use and global climate change, in terms of science/engineering, public policy and finance.
• Comprehend the technological, political and financial obstacles that need to be overcome to transform energy supply and usage 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 entities (individuals, corporations, NGOs and governments) relevant for the implementation of sustainable energy solutions, particularly in view of controlling energy use and climate change.

Teaching methods

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

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

Attendance

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 master’s programme. At all times the coordinator needs to be informed by email of absence prior to the class that will be missed.

Assessment

Grading Key: Three Short Papers and Individual Article in Team Newsletter: The papers are graded on the following areas:

• Clarity of title
• Relevance of subject chosen
• Executive Summary
• Research performed
• Substance of main body of information
• Conclusion
• Overall quality of presentation and position taken
• Following all guidelines
• Submittal before time deadline

Examination: When registered for the course, students are automatically registered for the grading elements of the course (i.e. class participation, the team newsletter and presentation and the three individual 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 5.50 minimally.

Inspection of assessed work

Second chance: In case (and only in case) the final score is graded below 5.50, an improved version of one of the three individual papers can be turned in. This is the only second chance option in this class and is only available 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 > or = 5.50 is achieved, the whole course has to be taken again the following year

Other Notes in Regards to Grading: If students have valid reasons for not being able to meet (one of) the required elements (lecture presence or 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(s).

Assignments

Three short papers

• A. Individual assignments

   

  There are three short papers that comprise a total of 60% of the course grade (20% each).

  • The first paper is science in focus,
  • The second paper is public policy in focus and
  • The third paper is financial in focus.

  The exact topic is at the discretion of the student (please note one restriction noted below on first paper). Although not required, students are encouraged to confirm (in-person, verbally or by email) with Professor van Boxel (topic must be selected from a list on Canvas) or Ganzi the title/subject of each paper to make sure the topic is correctly focused. If a student chooses to not get input on the topic it is possible that the paper may be graded as a zero if it does not deal with the relevant subject matter (i.e. science, public policy or finance) for the assignment.

   

  Paper Submittal Format Guideline: The following components should be included in all three short individual papers and the individual paper section of the team newsletter. You can add additional headings but all the items listed below should definitely be included. Remember total length is 2 pages or less plus citation/reference page.

  • Clear title that covers the papers substance
  • Executive summary (1/4 to 1/3 a page)
  • Introduction (short)
  • Main body of information (1 to 1.25 pages)
  • Conclusion (1/3 to 1/2 a page)
  • Citations/reference material used (1 page or less)

  Format for short papers: All three short papers will conform to the same basic format:

  • Two A4 pages in length, plus one A4 page for footnotes and citations (1000 words maximum within 1st 2 pages)
  • In the heading of all three pages include: your full name, Student ID, Title of Paper, and assignment number (1, 2, 3)
  • Margins of 2.5CM (all 4 sides)
  • Pages should be numbered in lower right-hand corner
  • Times New Roman type face
  • 12-point type

  Penalties for not following direction on individual papers:

  • Length: Make sure it prints properly. If the paper prints out longer then 2 + 1 pages (text and footnotes/citations) the additional pages will not be reviewed or graded, and the grade will be based on the initial 2 + 1 page
  • Format: If the format is not flowed a deduction of 1 to 2 (out of 20) will be deducted based on the materiality of the failure to follow the format
  • Timeliness: 0900 means before or at 0900, not 0901. For every partial to full day that the deadline is missed 1.0 (out of 20) will be deducted. Example, a paper is submitted 1 minute or 23 hours and 59 minutes late -1.0 point, if 24 hour and 1 minute late then 2 points will be deducted)

  1.       First short paper

  The first paper should focus on a topic covered in the lectures of Dr. John van Boxel. The deadline for the first paper is 13 November at 9.00 AM. Counts for 20% of the total grade. Must be based on one publication from the list on Canvas and three to five additional peer reviewed scientific publications, which the student must find him/herself. Other additional paper requirements will be explained by Prof. van Boxel in class. The paper needs to be emailed to Dr. John van Boxel (J.H.vanBoxel@uva.nl), with a copy to Senior Lecturer John Ganzi (J.T.Ganzi@uva.nl).

   

  2.       Second short paper

  The second paper should be based on the lectures and publications from the public policy reading list. The deadline for the second paper is 20 November at 9.00 AM, counts for 20% of the total grade. The paper needs to be emailed to Senior Lecturer John Ganzi (J.T.Ganzi@uva.nl).

   

  3.       Third short paper

  The third paper should be based on the publications list and lectures related to finance/economics. The deadline for the third paper is 27 November at 9.00 AM, counts for 20% of the total grade. The paper needs to be emailed to Senior Lecturer John Ganzi (J.T.Ganzi@uva.nl).

   

  NOTE: In addition to basing your paper on the lectures and distributed publications lists, you are encouraged to do your own secondary research of publications and others research on these three areas in order to further develop your selected topic and increase the grade score for your paper.

   

Team assigment

• 1. Group newsletter and presentation

  Group newsletter and presentation: Each group (group size to be determined based on number of enrolled students**) in principle can chose any topic that will integrate all three core issues related to energy and climate change (i.e. science/engineering, finance, and public policy), with the restriction that each topic can only be selected by one team in the class. An initial list of possible topics will be distributed in class 1, but you are also encouraged to create your own topic. Registration for topics operates on a first-come first-choice basis. Teams register their chosen topic by submitting a one line headline and short paragraph description, starting at 2000 on 28/10 to Professor Ganzi as soon as possible, but no later than Friday the 6th November at 9.00 AM.

  (** Team composition: Must include at least 1 male and 1 female, must include 1 NL citizen and 1 non-NL citizen, should include at least 2 separate major areas of study).

   

  Format for team assignment

    This activity represents 40% of the entire grade and covers the three main course components:

  • An individual essay written by each member of the team (one per member),
  • The overall newsletter that includes cover, table of contents, executive summary, conclusion section, graphics, footnotes, etc., and
  • A presentation (by all team members) which takes place on one of the two last days of class in December.

   

  1. Group newsletter

  The group newsletter consists of a series of components. The main components are the individual papers by the team members, a quality cover, the table of contents, the executive summary at the beginning, the conclusion at the end plus all auxiliary materials deemed relevant by the team (photos, graphics, footnotes, citations, etc…). The type, paper size, etc that are required for the short papers apply here, but for visual impact there are no restriction (other than page limits) on graphics or photography use.

  • The individual papers are to comply exactly with the same guidelines as the individual short papers and be two pages of text, plus one page of footnotes/citations.
  • The executive summary should not exceed one page.
  • The conclusion section should not exceed two pages.
  • The total newsletter/magazine should not exceed 25 pages including the cover, TOC, etc.

  Penalties for not following direction on newsletter:

  • Individual Essay Length: Make sure it prints properly. If the paper prints out longer then 2 + 1 pages (text and footnotes/citations) the additional pages will not be reviewed or graded, and the grade will be based on the initial 2 + 1 page.
  • Overall Newsletter Length: Make sure it prints properly. If the paper prints out longer than 25 pages the additional pages will not be reviewed or graded, and the team grade will be based on the initial 25 pages.
  • Format: If the format for individual essays or/and the overall newsletter is not followed a deduction of .5 to 2.5 (for each component, so  a total of 1 to 5) points out of  total of 20  (2 x 10) will be deducted based on the materiality of the failure to follow the format.
  • Timeliness: 0900 means before 0900, not 0901. For every partial to full day that the deadline is missed 1.0 will be deducted (for the team newsletter only) . Example, a paper is submitted 1 minute or 23 hours and 59 minutes late -1.0 point, if 24hour and 1 minute late then 2 points will be deducted)

   

  2. Group Presentation

  The presentations exact length will be based on the number of teams so the exact length will be established by class 4 of the term.

   

  The presentation should be designed to inform the other students and others attendees at the presentation, plus also be designed to be somewhat interactive with the audience.  A PP presentation is strongly recommended and use of other audio-visual components (video, photos, live polls, flip charts, …)  is       encouraged as it will enhance the viewers experience and recall of the presentation.   The presentation should be a companion piece to the newsletter and not be presenting new material.  It should not assume the reader will ever read the newsletter, as fellow students not on your team will most likely never read it.

  NOTE: This entire activity may be impacted by Covid19 restrictions so we may need to revisit how this presentation will be made based on safety considerations and government guidelines.

   

participation

• Class participation and attendance:

  • Possible bonus of 10 points for participation during lectures .
  • No points for attending, as attendance is mandatory unless absence is approved for legitimate reason by coordinator by email before class being missed begins.

  Loss of 5 if one class missed without approval. Missing more than 1 class see attendance write-up.

   

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, social sciences, business, finance, or economics, but with an interest in the subject matter of energy and climate change.

The skills we do 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 in English. This has to be reflected in both your oral assignments (class participation and presentation) and written assignments.

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

Labs that are offered:

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-tutorial module (see the Canvas site of the course Research Workshop of the Master Earth Sciences).

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-tutorial Deficiency Skills Lab on Presentation / Rhetoric, see www.coursera.org/ course/thinkagain.

Contact information

Coordinator

• J.T. Ganzi

Staff

• dr. ir. J.H. van Boxel