Course Overview
This course introduces you to key concepts in applied climate change science, with a focus on climate systems, use of data and models to assess global to local biophysical impacts, and knowledge applications. The course will provide a brief overview of the scientific evidence for climate change and examine how changes and impacts are projected for the future. You will examine climate change through a systems lens, and explore how climate impacts are interconnected.
The course serves as a foundation for understanding the science of climate change and its impacts on human societies and the biosphere. It will provide a basis for understanding local, regional, and global challenges associated with warming, sea level change, biodiversity loss, and other impacts. Academic journal articles and scientific and practitioner reports, such as from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, will serve as key resources for the course. Topics include the context of climate and socio-ecological systems, global biodiversity, and planetary boundaries; the scientific basis for climate change; global climate scenarios; climate data and models, with methods for assessing regional climate change; and, biophysical impacts. These topics will be approached from an interdisciplinary perspective with a focus on applications to climate services and adaptation. A systems lens will be applied and will thus integrate considerations related to equity and decolonisation.
Each unit will present video lectures and an assigned selection of readings to familiarize you with key concepts and research. Additional readings and resources (reports, publications, video links) will be provided to enhance your learning. One of the main course activities is optional live sessions with the instructors that provides you the opportunity to ask questions and engage more deeply with the material. The live sessions will be recorded and available throughout the course for review. Online written forum discussions and team-based applications will foster your skills in synthesizing material, developing informed, evidence-based critical thinking, and cultivating hands-on problem-solving.
Assignments consist of a mix of individual and team-based work. They vary in format, including reflective writing, public blogs and a video blog, team problem-solving, a team ‘lightning talk’ (i.e., short recorded presentation), and a public-facing climate report. Course assignments and learning activities are designed to be flexible in terms of allowing opportunities for you to explore your own interests within the assignment guidelines and the broader topic of climate change. You will develop a preliminary set of skills that provide a basis for your development as a climate adaptation practitioner, and prepare you for the follow-on course.
Learning Outcomes
1.1 Evaluate core concepts of climate adaptation and resilience with a critical lens to solve problems and make climate action recommendations
2.2 Communicate effectively using coherent, synthesized, well organized, edited, logical and fully supported work
3.1 Ask relevant, probing and detailed questions to deepen knowledge that informs arguments, choices, and practices
3.3 Illustrate the use and limitations of information and theory in the field of climate adaptation
5.3 Mobilize knowledge to share, reuse and contribute to the commons
6.1 Monitor and reflect on self-awareness, self-confidence, and perseverance to improve professional practice and policies
Stay Connected
- To each other via the course blog and your own WordPress blogs – be sure to set up your Feedly. You will need to add the OPML files to your Feedly for each course.
- #RRUMACAL on twitter;
- email: anytime via the contact form in the panel to the right. Students can email directly using the email address posted in Moodle.