Second Semester
Copyright: UHH/SICSS/Kutzbach
The main goal of the second semester is to train your ability in interdisciplinary thinking across the climate science disciplines. You will choose courses from at least two of the three possible program tracks: “Physics of the Climate System”, “Biogeochemistry of the Climate System” and “Climate-related Economics and Social Sciences”.
You have the opportunity to give your studies either an in-depth or an interdisciplinary focus, depending on your personal interests and your desired professional career. In the lecture-free period after the second semester you will take your exams, and additionally you will have time to attend workshops, summer schools, or internships.
Overview of the modules offered in the second semester:
Climate Dynamics
Module abbreviation: 2.1 CLIDYN
Title: Climate Dynamics
Learning Outcomes: Students have gained in-depth knowledge in the dynamics of geophysical fluids, in particular the variability on various time scales.
Contents:
Compulsory courses:
- 2.1.1 Climate Dynamics (Marotzke)
- 2.1.2 Dynamics of Land-Atmosphere Interactions (Beer)
- 2.1.3 Researching and Shaping Climate Futures (Baehr, Behrens, Borchert, Kutzbach, Rödder, Revers)
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: None
Recommended Prerequisites: See specific announcements for the individual courses
Exam Framework:
- Type: Joint module exam, as a rule: written exam. Deviations will be announced at the beginning of the courses
- Requirements for registration: Course-specific
- Language: English
- Duration/Size: maximum 120 minutes (written) or 45 minutes (oral)
- Credit Points: 9
Course Type and Usability: Compulsory for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students of related M.Sc. programs, dependent on capacities and schedule.
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration: one semester
Module Coordinator: Track coordinator physics
Climate Dynamics (Course)
Course Number: ICSS-M-2.1.1 (63-879)
Title: Climate Dynamics
Learning Outcomes: Students have a thorough understanding of the theoretical basics of climate dynamics, and know the art and science of constructing conceptual models of the climate system.
Contents: Concepts and models are introduced that help us understand fundamental aspects of the earth’s climate, such as global mean temperature, global-scale temperature differences, and what might cause these to vary on timescales of decades and longer. Particular emphasis will be placed on oceanic and coupled ocean atmosphere processes. While we cover observed elements of the climate system and a hierarchy of models ranging from the simplest models to general circulation models, the focus will be on the art and science of constructing simplified models that help us obtain conceptual understanding. Discussing what is not understood, and hence identifying areas of current and future research, will be a crucial element of the course.
Educational Concept: Lectures (2 SWS), homework assignments
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: None
Recommended Prerequisites: Basic calculus and differential equations; some introduction to atmospheric or oceanic science
Exam Framework:
- Type: Joint module exam
- Requirements for registration: An overall grade of at least 50% in homework assignments
- Language: English
Credit Points: 3
Workload:
- Campus Study: 24 hours
- Self-study: 36 hours
- Exam Preparation: 30 hours
Course Type and Usability: Compulsory for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students of related M.Sc. programs, dependent on capacities and schedule.
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration: one semester
Module Coordinator: Track coordinator physics
Course Lecturers: J. Marotzke
Literature: Will be announced during the course.
Dynamics of land-atmosphere interactions
Course Number: ICSS-M-2.1.2 (63-863)
Title: Dynamics of land-atmosphere interactions
Learning Outcomes: Students have an understanding of key biophysical and biogeochemical land-atmosphere interactions that influence climate dynamics. They know basic mathematical and numerical concepts of how to represent the underlying terrestrial processes in land surface models.
Contents: The lectures will address dynamics of land-atmosphere interactions due to energy and greenhouse gas balances that are imortant for climate dynamics on a decadal to cenenntial time scale, and respective feedback mechanisms. We will discuss specific modelling concept used in land surface models and their limitations.
Educational Concept: Lectures (2 SWS)
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: None
Recommended Prerequisites: None
Exam Framework:
- Type: Joint module exam
- Requirements for registration: Regular and active participation
- Language: English
Credit Points: 3
Workload:
- Campus Study: 28 hours
- Self-study: 42 hours
- Exam Preparation: 20 hours
Course Type and Usability: Compulsory for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students of related M.Sc. programs, dependent on capacities and schedule.
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration: one semester
Module Coordinator: Track coordinator physics
Course Lecturer: C. Beer
Literature: Will be announced during the course.
Researching and Shaping Climate Futures
Course Number: ICSS-M-2.1.3 (63-921)
Title: Researching and Shaping Climate Futures (formerly: Uncertain Climate Futures)
Learning Outcomes: After completing the seminar, students will be able to (i) reproduce the emergence of uncertainties in the context of climate research and climate policy and the views of various actors, (ii) understand the causes of different approaches to the problem of "uncertainty" and (iii) think through and develop alternative options for dealing with "uncertainty". Additionally, the students will train to empathize with different actors, to position themselves with regard to certain questions and to reflect their opinion and understanding critically.
Contents: Uncertainties in the context of climate change have long since emerged from purely scientific consideration. Nowadays, uncertainties are of concern, and influence not only science but also journalism, politics and a broad public. In the course, students and teachers will jointly understand the various causes and the development of uncertainties, experience multi-perspectivity and illuminate and understand the handling and communication processes of the various actors.
Educational Concept: Seminar (2 SWS)
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: None
Recommended Prerequisites: None
Exam Framework:
- Type: Joint module exam
- Requirements for registration: 80% participation at the seminar
- Language: English
Credit Points: 3
Workload:
- Campus Study: 28 hours
- Self-study: 50 hours
- Exam Preparation: 12 hours
Course Type and Usability: Compulsory for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students of related M.Sc. programs, dependent on capacities and schedule.
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration: one semester
Module Coordinator: Track coordinator physics
Course Lecturers: J. Behrens, J. Baehr, L. Borchert, L. Kutzbach, S. Rödder, M. Revers
Literature: Will be announced during the course.
Climate Science Track: Physics
Module abbreviation: 2.2 CLITRAC-P
Title: Climate Science Track: Physics
Learning Outcomes: Students have gained detailed experience and are specialized in questions, methods and results in physical climate sciences.
Contents:
A maximum of 9 CP from the following courses will be accredited:
- 2.2.X Theoretical Oceanography: II (Eden)
- 2.2.X Theoretical Oceanography: II Practicals (Czeschel, Griesel)
- 2.2.X Sea Ice Physics, Observations and Modelling: II (Notz, Kern)
- 2.2.4 Advanced Numerical Methods . . . (Behrens)
- 2.2.X Climate Modeling: I (Borchert, Kadow)
- 2.2.X Climate Modeling: II (Borchert, Kadow)
- 2.2.6 Atmospheric Circulation Systems: II (Borth)
- 2.2.6 Atmospheric Circulation Systems: II Practicals (Borth)
- 2.2.9 Weather and Climate Extremes... (Sillmann, Poschlod)
- 2.2.9 Weather and Climate Extremes... Practicals (Sillmann, Poschlod)
- 2.2.X Numerical Prediction of Atmosphere... (Zagar, Stammer, Vasylkevych, Serra)
- 2.2.X Data Analysis in Atmosphere... (Vasylkevych)
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: See specific announcements for the individual courses
Recommended prerequisites: See specific announcements for the individual courses
Exam Framework:
- Type: Joint module exam, as a rule: oral - deviations will be announced at the beginning of the courses
- Requirements for registration: course-specific
- Language: English
- Duration/Size: Maximum 45 minutes (oral)
- Credit Points: 3, 6, or 9 are possible
Course Type and Usability: Elective for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students of related M.Sc. programs, dependent on capacities and schedule.
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration: One semester
Module Coordinator: Track coordinator physics
Literature: Will be announced during the course.
Theoretical Oceanography: II
Sea ice physics, observations and modeling II
Course Number: ICSS-M-2.2.7 (63-761b)
Title: Sea ice physics, observations and modeling II
Learning Outcomes: This course provides a hands-on introduction into the physics of sea ice and its interaction with the atmosphere and the ocean. Particular focus will be on the scientific methods used to explore sea ice, including satellite remote sensing, scientific instrumentation and large-scale climate modelling. We will examine how the different methods are ideally combined to provide robust insights into the functioning of sea ice, and thus use sea ice as a proxy to gain experience in working as a climate researcher.
Contents: Large-scale forcing of the Arctic and Antarctic sea-ice cove; impact of interval variability and external forcing; seasonal, decadal and centennial predictitons and projections; techniques of in-situ and remote sensing observations; modelling sea ice; analyzing field and laboratory data; writing scientific reports.
Educational Concept: Lectures and tutorials (4 SWS)
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: Previous participation in Sea ice physics, observations and modeling I is highly recommended.
Exam Framework:
- Type: Usually reports
- Language: English
Credit Points: 6
Workload:
- Campus Study: 56 hours
- Self-study: 64 hours
- Exam Preparation: 60 hours
Course Type and Usability: Elective for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students of related M.Sc. programs, dependent on capacities and schedule.
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration: One semester
Module Coordinator: Track coordinators
Course Lecturers: D. Notz, S. Kern
Literature: Will be announced during the course.
Advanced Numerical Methods for Climate Modeling
Course Number: ICSS-M-2.2.3 (63-938)
Title: Advanced Numerical Methods for Climate Modeling
Learning Outcomes: Students have gained insight in advanced numerical methods for climate modeling, especially for conservation laws, efficient parallel solvers for large linear systems of equations, multi-level methods, etc.
Contents: Introduction to numerical methods for the implementation of conservation laws: introduction to structure of conservation laws, finite volume methods, discontinuous Galerkin methods, finite element methods, advanced time integration schemes, issues in high performance computing. Parallel solution of large systems of linear equations: introduction to parallel architectures and HPC systems, iterative solution of large systems of equations: Krylov subspace methods, multi-level methods, and efficient preconditioners.
Educational Concept: Lectures, practical exercises (2 SWS)
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: Regular participation in the course Introduction to Numerical Approaches.
Recommended Prerequisites: Knowledge of mathematical concepts in ordinary and partial differential equations, basic knowledge of theoretical meteorology and/or oceanography
Exam Framework:
- Type: Joint track exam
- Requirements for registration: Active participation
- Language: English
Credit Points: 3
Workload:
- Campus Study: 28 hours
- Self-study: 42 hours
- Exam Preparation: 20 hours
Course Type and Usability: Elective for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students of related M.Sc. programs, dependent on capacities and schedule.
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration: One semester
Module Coordinator: Track coordinator physics
Course Lecturer: J. Behrens
Literature: Will be announced during the course.
Climate Modeling: I
Climate Modeling: II
Atmospheric Circulation Systems: II
Course Number: ICSS-M-2.2.6 (63-931)
Title: Atmospheric Circulation Systems: Part II
Learning Outcomes: Students have gained a deeper insight into selected atmospheric circulation systems and acquire basic knowledge on global atmospheric circulation modeling.
Contents: Important topics are: moist entropy and tropical circulation systems; potential vorticity and mid-latitude dynamics; atmospheric global circulation modeling; atmospheric transport.
Educational Concept: Lectures including discussions (2 SWS); exercises and worked examples (1 SWS)
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: None
Recommended Prerequisites: Participation in the course Atmospheric Circulation Systems: Part I
Exam Framework:
- Type: Joint track exam
- Requirements for registration: Active participation
- Language: English
Credit Points: 3
Workload:
- Campus Study: 39 hours
- Self-study: 21 hours
- Exam Preparation: 30 hours
Course Type and Usability: Elective for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students of related M.Sc. programs, dependent on capacities and schedule.
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration: One semester
Module Coordinator: Track coordinator physics
Course Lecturer: H. Borth
Literature: Will be announced during the course.
Weather and Climate Extremes in a changing climate
Course Number: ICSS-M-2.2.x (63-932)
Title: Weather and Climate Extremes in a changing climate
Learning Outcomes: Students have learned physical processes related to weather and climate extremes and various statistical methods for analyzing extremes in observations and climate model simulations. They will have an overview of how weather and climate extremes have been assessed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Students have developed an understanding of how weather and climate extremes contribute to societal risks.
Contents: The course covers physics and statistics of extreme weather and climate events, scenario development for climate change projections, insights in the assessment reports of the IPCC, and socio-economic aspects of climate-related risks.
Educational Concept: Lectures (2 SWS)
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: None
Recommended Prerequisites: Knowledge of basic meteorology and climate dynamics
Exam Framework:
- Type: Joint Track Exam
- Requirements for registration: Active participation
- Language: English
Credit Points: 3
Workload:
- Campus Study: 28 hours
- Self-study: 42 hours
- Exam Preparation: 20 hours
Course Type and Usability: Elective for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students of related M.Sc. programs, dependent on capacities and schedule.
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration: One week (ca. 5 hours per day)
Module Coordinator: Track coordinator physics
Course Lecturer: J. Sillmann, B. Poschlod
Literature: Will be announced during the course.
Numerical Prediction of Atmosphere and Ocean
Data Analysis in Atmosphere and Ocean using Python
Climate Science Track: Biogeochemistry
Module abbreviation: 2.3 CLITRAC-B
Title: Climate Science Track: Biogeochemistry
Learning Outcomes: Students have gained detailed experience and are specialized in questions, methods and results in biogeochemical climate sciences.
Contents:
A maximum of 9 CP from the following courses will be accredited:
- 2.3.1 Script-based data analysis in soil science (Holl)
- 2.3.5 Soils and Land Use of Wetlands (Kutzbach, Lexmond, Hadenfeldt)
- 2.3.X Environmental application of nitrogen stable isotopes in coastal systems (Dähnke, Sanders)
- GeoW21-M-BK2.2 Soils in the Landscape: Soil Survey (Kutzbach, Beer)
- GeoW21-M-BK2.3 Soil, Water and Vegetation Processes and Their Coupling to the Atmosphere (Kutzbach, Knoblauch)
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: See specific announcements for the individual courses
Recommended Prerequisites: See specific announcements for the individual courses
Exam Framework:
- Type: Joint module exam, as a rule: oral. Deviations will be announced at the beginning of the courses
- Requirements for registration: course-specific
- Language: English
- Duration/Size: Maximum 45 minutes (oral)
- Credit Points: 3, 6, or 9 are possible.
Course Type and Usability: Elective for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students of related M.Sc. programs, dependent on capacities and schedule.
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration: One semester
Module Coordinator: Track coordinator biogeochemistry
Script-based data analysis in soil science
Will follow shortly.
Soils and Land Use of Wetlands
Course Number: ICSS-M-2.3.5 (63-945)
Title: Soils and Land Use of Wetlands
Learning Outcomes: Students have gained knowledge about the genesis, properties and functions of hydromorphic soils of marshes and peatlands in the coastal lowlands of Northern Germany. They have developed their understanding of how landscape development, geomorphology, hydrology, and land use are interlinked with the diversity and distribution of wetland soils. Students are able to evaluate the ecological and economic functions of wetlands and their response to land use and climate changes.
Contents: Landscape development of the coastal lowlands of Northern Germany; geologic processes during Pleistocene and Holocene; geomorphology of marshes and river floodplains; land use history, diking and agriculture; soils of tidal flats and different marsh types; soils and vegetation of bogs and fens; German, US and international soil classification systems; ecological and economic functions; impact of past and present land use and climatic changes.
Educational Concept: 3 full days of excursion and 0.5 day seminar, practical groupwork (6-8 students each)
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: None
Recommended Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of soil science
Exam Framework:
- Type: Joint track exam
- Requirements for registration: Active participation, field protocol (5 pages)
- Language: English
Credit Points: 3
Workload:
- Campus Study: 35 hours
- Self-study: 30 hours
- Exam Preparation: 25 hours
Course Type and Usability: Elective for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students of related M.Sc. programs, dependent on capacities and schedule.
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration: Block course
Module Coordinator: Track coordinator biogeochemistry
Course Lecturers: L. Kutzbach, F. Lexmond, A. Hadenfeldt
Literature: Will be announced during the course.
Environmental application of nitrogen stable isotopes in coastal systems
will follow shortly.
Soils in the Landscape: Soil Survey
Will follow shortly.
Soil, Water and Vegetation Processes and Their Coupling to the Atmosphere
Course Number: ICSS-M-2.3.1 (63-313)
Title: Soil, Water and Vegetation Processes and Their Coupling to the Atmosphere
Learning Outcomes: Students have knowledge of the biogeochemical and biophysical processes in soils and the vegetation, and their interaction with the atmosphere. They will obtain a good scientific basis for both measurement- and model- based studies of the coupled processes of soils, vegetation and atmosphere.
Contents: Atmospheric boundary layer characteristics, wind and turbulence mass and energy exchange; aeolian transport and deposition of elements; soil energy budget; soil water dynamics; plant-soil-microorganism interactions; soil organic maker processes, organic maker humification and mineralization, heterotrophic respiration; soil methane cycle: production, oxidation and soil-atmosphere transport mechanisms; lateral transport of carbon and nutrients; soil-vegetation-atmosphere water and carbon exchange processes, evapotranspiration, photosynthesis, autotrophic respiration; instrumentation for biometeorological measurements (e.g. closed chambers, eddy covariance method, isotope analyses).
Educational Concept: Lectures with short group work exercises (2 SWS).
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: None
Recommended Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of soil science and/or plant ecophysiology and/or meteorology
Exam Framework:
- Type: Joint track exam
- Requirements for registration: Active participation in exercises
- Language: English
Credit Points: 3
Workload:
- Campus Study: 28 hours
- Self-study: 32 hours
- Exam Preparation: 30 hours
Course Type and Usability: Elective for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students of related M.Sc. programs, dependent on capacities and schedule.
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration: One semester
Module Coordinator: Track coordinator biogeochemistry
Course Lecturers: L. Kutzbach, C. Knoblauch
Literature: Will be announced during the course.
Climate Science Track: Economic and Social Sciences
Module abbreviation: 2.4 CLITRAC-ES
Title: Climate Science Track: Economic and Social Sciences
Learning Outcomes: Students have gained detailed experience and are specialized in questions, methods and results in economic and social climate sciences.
Contents:
A maximum of 9 CP from the following courses will be accredited:
- 2.4.3 Estimating Sustainability (Schneider)
- 2.4.5 Integrated Climate-Economic Modeling (Held)
- 2.4.X Climate Communication (Revers)
- 2.4.X Agriculture and agent-based modeling (Rodriguez Lopez)
- 2.4.X Interactions between natural and social systems (Borchert, Sillmann)
- 2.4.X Extreme Events and Adaptation in Cities (Sillmann, Poschlod)
- 2.4.X Science-policy models (Dressel)
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: See specific announcements for the individual courses
Recommended Prerequisites: See specific announcements for the individual courses
Exam Framework:
- Type: Joint module exam, as a rule: oral - deviations will be announced at the beginning of the courses
- Requirements for registration: course-specific
- Language: English
- Duration/Size: Maximum 45 minutes (oral)
- Credit Points: 3, 6, or 9 are possible
Course Type and Usability: Elective for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students of related M.Sc. programs, dependent on capacities and schedule.
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration: One semester
Module Coordinator: Track coordinator Economic and Social Sciences
Estimating Sustainability
Will follow shortly.
Integrated Climate-Economic Modeling
Course Number: ICSS-M-2.4.4 (63-953)
Title: Integrated Climate-Economic Modeling
Learning Outcomes: Students have an overview on integrated climate-economic modeling that supports an assessment of how, and by what policy instruments global warming could be mitigated.
Contents: The status of the scientific arguments behind global warming mitigation targets and instruments is reviewed, covering competing schools within climate economics. The necessary modeling tools are introduced together with a module-adjusted short course on resource economics and economic growth theory.
Educational Concept: Lectures (2 SWS) in an interactive format (interactive elements: discussion of homework; test exam and discussion)
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: None
Recommended Prerequisites: Bachelor-level of applied mathematics, climate dynamics, an introduction to welfare economics, and scientific English.
Exam Framework:
- Type: Joint track exam
- Requirements for registration: Active participation
- Language: English
Credit Points: 3
Workload:
- Campus Study: 28 hours
- Self-study: 32 hours
- Exam Preparation: 30 hours
Course Type and Usability: Elective for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students of related M.Sc. programs, dependent on capacities and schedule.
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration: One semester
Module Coordinator: Track coordinator Economic and Social Sciences
Course Lecturer: H. Held
Literature: Will be announced during the course.
Climate Communication Research
Course Number: ICSS-M-2.4.5 (63-955)
Title: Climate Communication
Learning Outcomes: Students will have learned about current patterns and dynamics in the global debate on climate change: How do scientists, journalists and political actors interact and produce public communication about climate change? Why is the climate debate different in different media contexts and in different countries? By exploring these questions in small projects, students get an enhanced understanding of climate communication, of how to conduct qualitative content analysis and how to collaborate with students across disciplines.
Contents:
- Current research in the field of climate communication
- The climate debate in different countries
- Traditional ways of climate reporting and new types of outlets
- How to do qualitative (and quantitative) content analysis
Educational Concept: Seminar (2 SWS): Groups of students from journalism studies and from ICSS will work together on small research projects on climate communication, doing a content analysis of climate coverage in different countries or different kinds of news outlets.
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation:
- For ICSS students: prior attendance of the introduction into social sciences/climate communication (Brüggemann/Rödder)
- For Journalism students: having attended all classes due in the first semester of the MA JKW
- Other students (dependent on capacities): having attended an introduction into social science research, its approaches and methods; and a seminar on media/journalism
Exam Framework:
- Type: Research report
- Language: English
Credit Points: 6
Workload:
- Campus Study: 28 hours
- Self-study: 28 hours (JKW), 56 hours (ICSS)
Course Type and Usability: Elective for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students from MA JKW; further programs: dependent on capacities
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration: One semester
Module Coordinator: Track coordinator Economic and Social Sciences
Course Lecturer: M. Revers
Literature:
- Hoffman, Andrew J. (2015): How culture shapes the climate change debate. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press
- Contributions in: Oxford Encyclopedia of Climate Change Communication. URL: hkp://climatescience.oxfordre.com/page/climate-changecommunication/
Agriculture and agent-based modeling (ABM)
Title: Agriculture and agent-based modeling (ABM)
Learning objectives:
- Understanding the causes and consequences of agricultural problems
- Developing a critical attitude towards agriculture research with a quantitative perspective
- Deepening and applying quantitative analysis methods and using programming techniques (especially Netlogo)
- Creating a thematic agent-based modeling on the topic of agriculture
Contents: Agriculture is currently at the center of public attention: the failure of international negotiations, falling prices and a series of political debates (food security) highlight the relevance of the topic we will be discussing. The problems of agriculture are mostly associated with natural science research due to a lack of high quality quantitative social science data. This seminar will focus on the question: How can the causes and consequences of agricultural decadence be modeled (and avoided?) from the perspective of agents (e.g. shopkeepers, but also farmers or resources)? The aim is to approach this problem of quantitative agricultural research with agent-based modeling. Furthermore, we will implement spatial modeling with an agent-based perspective in Netlogo.
The seminar will take place in the seminar room (GB5). Students are going to work on a "bring your own device" basis and should bring a device (laptop) to the seminar. We will install and set up the software together (1st date). Previous programming experience (or Netlogo) is not required, but may be an advantage. The first day is an introduction to Netlogo where we start from scratch.
Pedagogical procedure: In the summer semester 2024, the seminar is going to be structured in two parts: Approaching the implementation of ABM and developing the research question. In the first phase of approaching the topic, an intensive and practically oriented discussion of the implementation of spatial models in Netlogo is planned. Within a few hours, a basic familiarity with the programming terms and concepts is created by developing this simple language. The students' own questions and interests that arise in the course of this discussion will then be addressed in the second phase of the seminar. The second phase begins with the choice of a topic / question. In consultation with the participants, individual aspects of agriculture and working techniques of computer science are deepened in the final lessons in order to create the basis for writing the models. In this phase, students write their own modeling as an academic achievement.
Language of instruction: English
Min. Number of participants: 8 | 20
Educational Concept:
- Block seminar
- 13th and 14th July 2024 (17th July?, 1 day for the presentations)
- Grindelberg 5 Room 1012
- Semester hours per week: 28
- Credits: 3.0
Additional notes on examinations: Proof of performance is provided by the independent preparation and presentation of a model on the topic of agriculture.
Lecturer: J.M. Rodriguez Lopez
Literature: Will be announced in the exercise.
Interactions between natural and social systems
Will follow shortly.
Agent-based Modeling in the Social Sciences
Course Number: ICSS-M-2.4.3 (63-955)
Title: Agent-based Modelling – Theory and Applications in the Social Sciences
Learning Outcomes: Students are familiar with agent-based modeling to explore macro phenomena emerging from micro behavior of agents.
Contents: The seminar provides an introduction to agent-based modelling. The course considers the theory how to describe, communicate, design, calibrate, and validate agent-based models and presents examples from applications in the social sciences, e.g. economics, sociology, political science, human and integrative geography.
Educational Concept: Seminar with Introduction - 3 sessions introduction, Wednesdays 14:15-15:45, Start 20 Oct. 2022. 2 Block Seminars later in the semester - GB 5, Rm 006 (online if necessary)
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: None
Recommended Prerequisites: Prior knowledge of programming is not required but recommended.
Exam Framework:
- Type: Joint track exam
- Requirements for registration: ≥80% participation
- Language: English
- Duration/Size: 1 hour presentation, 10-15 pages written report
Credit Points: 3
Workload:
- Campus Study: 28 hours
- Self-study: 32 hours
- Exam Preparation: 30 hours
Course Type and Usability: Elective for M.Sc. ICSS; open for students of related M.Sc. programs, dependent on capacities and schedule.
Duration: One semester
Module Coordinator: Head of SICSS
Course Lecturer: S. Hokamp
Literature: Will be announced during the course.
Extreme Events and Adaptation in Cities
Will follow shortly.
Science-Policy Models
Course Number: 63-915
Title: Science-Policy Models
Learning Outcomes: At the end of the seminar, students will have gained an overview over the predominant mental models that shape the science-policy relationship. They will also be able to understand how their own philosophical beliefs influence their view of science and policy. Furthermore, the seminar will foster the participants’ skills in analytical reading of articles from the humanities.
Contents: The relationship between science and policy is contested. One of the fundamental issues is whether scientists should remain neutral in the political arena or whether they should actively advocate for particular courses of action. The answer depends, among other things, on the philosophical problem of whether scientific value-freedom is possible in the first place. In this block seminar, we will study these questions through the conceptual lens of different science-policy models. The first unit intro- duces the classic technocratic, decisionist, and pragmatist models. The second unit focusses on decisionist and pragmatist models, using the “honest broker” model (Pielke), the “pragmatic-enlightened model” (Edenhofer & Kowarsch) and the IPCC’s “policy-relevant, not prescriptive” models as examples. The third unit explores the pros and cons of scientists taking an advocatory role on public policy. The fourth unit touches upon the philosophical debate on values in science. In addition to discussing the relevant literature, the seminar will also include interactive sessions where students explore their own assumptions about the science-policy relationship.
Educational Concept: Seminar
Language: English
Formal Requirements for Participation: Students are required to participate actively in the seminar discussion and to study the literature previous to every meeting (ca. 25 pp.).
Exam Framework:
- Students will earn 3 credit points for their active participation and a short presentation (15 min).
Frequency of Offer: Annually in the summer semester
Duration und location:
- Fr, 05.04.24 16:15 – 17:45 Grindelberg 5, Room 1012
- Sa, 13.04.24 12:15 – 17:45 Grindelberg 5, Room 1012
- Sa, 20.04.24 12:15 – 17:45 Grindelberg 5, Room 1012
- Sa, 27.04.24 12:15 – 17:45 Grindelberg 5, Room 1012
- Sa, 04.05.24 12:15 – 17:45 Grindelberg 5, Room 1012
Module Coordinator: Track coordinator Economic and Social Sciences
Course Lecturer: Dressel, M.