Natural Sciences of the Environment
Natural Sciences of the Environment
Grasping Sustainability
Short Course Description
Explore and understand sustainability, the different concepts, objectives and methodologies to improve the impact of your research.
Scope
To date, many different scientific concepts and approaches of sustainability exist. What are the differences and what do they entail? What is your role as a scientist in achieving sustainable develop-ment? How can you apply sustainability in your own research? And in doing so, how can you deal with facts, uncertainty, values and opinions?
This on-site course will enable you to think about the ‘bigger picture’, grasp sustainability and to apply concepts and approaches to your own research, in a collaborative learning environment, away from ‘office’.
To ensure that the content of the course is aligned to your own research, the content of the course will also be determined by the research topics of the participants.
General information
| Target group | The course is meant for PhD candidates, MSc students of the WIMEK Graduate Programme, and other scientists who want to understand and achieve sustainable development and innovation, and are interested in ways to incorporate sustainability in their research. |
| Course level | Beginner |
| Intended credits | 2 ECTS |
| Course frequency | Once a year |
| Course fee | • SENSE/PE&RC/WASS/WUR PhDs with TSP: €250 (early bird) / €300 (regular) |
| Cancellation conditions | • Up to 4 (four) weeks prior to the start of the course, cancellation is free of charge. • Up to 2 (two) weeks prior to the start of the course, a fee of 50% of the full costs will be charged. • In case of cancellation within two weeks prior to the start of the course, a fee of 100% of the full costs will be charged. • If you do not show at all, a fee of 100% of the full costs and a fine of 100 euro will be charged. |
| Lecturer(s) | Prof. Gert Spaargaren (Environmental Policy Group, WUR)Dr. Karen Fortuin (Environmental System Analysis, WUR)
More to follow |
| More information | Peter Vermeulen e-mail: peter1.vermeulen@wur.nl tel: +31 (0) 317 48 5090 |
| Registration form | Register here |
| Registration deadline | Extended early bird: 4 February 2020 Final deadline: 23 February 2020 |
Learning goals
- Be acquainted with and understand different concepts, objectives and approaches of sustainability
- Be aware of and be able to deal with the science - policy interface
- Be able to understand the importance of societal processes in transitions
- Be able to apply sustainability concepts, objectives and approaches to your own research
- To identify your role as a researcher within its societal context
- Effectively and successfully deal with group processes
Course programme
| Date | Activity | Focus | Lecturers |
| Monday 9 March | Lectures Debate | ‘Sustainability’ the bigger picture | Prof. Gert Spaargaren & Dr. Karen Fortuin |
| Tuesday 10 March | Lectures and discussion Lectures and discussion | tbd
| |
| Wednesday 11 March | Lectures, exercise, discussion | Sustainability and the science - policy interface | Dr. Eva Kunseler and Dr. Sandra van der Hel |
| Thursday 12 March | Workshop Self-study in groups | Transdisciplinary approaches Applying what is learned to your own research | Prof. Ernst Worrell
|
| Friday 13 March | Presentations | Participants input: ‘Sustainability in my research’ | Prof. Spaargaren, Dr. Karen Fortuin |
Former occurrences of this course
- 11-15 March 2019- flyer 2019
- 12-16 March 2018 - flyer 2018
- 13-17 March 2017 - flyer 2017
- 22-26 February 2016 - flyer 2016
- 10-13 March 2015 - flyer 2015