Top Courses in Environmental Sciences

Study location: Cape Coast, Ghana

This course gives a social science introduction to the most important fields within global environmental studies in general and West Africa in particular. It digs into the causes and dynamics of environmental challenges and dynamics, and different perspectives on management of natural resources. It is a full semester course, 30 ECTS, and is offered in cooperation with Oslo and Akershus University College.

The course presents various ways that major environmental issues are seen as global challenges and are discussed in global fora. Furthermore, the students learn about specific cases of such issues in Ghana and other West-African countries. In these cases, the course provides insights to concerns by various actors at local and national levels. The students gain a basis for critical analysis and reflection upon the causes, dynamics and proposed solutions to environmental conflicts. The course places a significant focus on field experience, including three field trips during which the students will be able to engage directly with some of the major environmental concerns facing Ghana. ... [-]

Einstein said “Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.” Whether you’re interested in a career or a life-changing experience, This program is about connecting you to the earth. You will learn about earth-sustaining concepts, like permaculture design and building with natural materials. You will explore environmental sciences, by monitoring sea turtles and propagating coral reefs. And you will acquire important (and fun!) expeditionary skills, like scuba diving, rock climbing, caving, among others. All while acquiring personal skills like leadership, collaboration, resilience and critical thinking. Challenging? Yes. Unforgettable? Life-changing? Yes, and yes! Skills Highlights:... [-]

SEPTEMBER 5 – NOVEMBER 30, 2017

US, UK, Germany, Austria Want a future that is both exciting and meaningful? Welcome to the new energy economy! In this program, you’ll learn skills you can use for a course of study, a future career or simply as a conscientious, energy-efficient citizen. See firsthand how countries like Germany and Austria are embracing energy efficiency. Calculate your environmental impact. Install solar panels. Discover smart cities, smart buildings, smart cars. Build a tiny house. Learn to construct a greywater system, install a wood stove, retrofit a home.

And learn to take action, to drive green solutions through leadership, collaboration and teamwork. The future is green – find your place in it.... [-]

As an Environmental Technician, you will work to prevent environmental problems, resolve environmental issues when necessary, and provide education to the public.

Throughout this program, you will engage in a wide range of hands-on environmental training activities to complement your in-class courses. As a result, you'll be well-prepared to monitor and improve the natural environment.

Course - Environmental Story and Nature in Brazil

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the module, the students should be able to:

What will our future look like? Will we continue burning fossil fuels or will we live in a 100% renewable world? How can we address climate change and what policies do we need to implement?

We will provide you with model examples to make you familiar with aspects of economic modeling and state-of-the-art research on current debates in energy policy.

This online course explores these concerns, using models in environmental and energy economics. You will learn how to design models, how to interpret and use results to make informed decisions, and how to use models to assess energy and environmental policies.

From weather fluctuations to the spread of an invasive species, what problems can scientists address by analyzing these vast data collections? What are the potential benefits of business, research, and our daily lives?

Find out about possible career paths and gain insights from industry experts and research scientists working on a range of current projects. From urban planning to monitoring wildlife, explore the complexities of managing and analyzing big data to seek innovative solutions.

Week 1: Introduction to big data

Made up of layers of compressed snow from over the last 100,000 years, the vast Greenland ice sheet acts as both a valuable record of our past climate and a bellwether for future climate change.

This online course highlights how the Greenland ice sheet is monitored from space and the ground. You’ll look at the measurements made possible by Earth Observation (EO) satellites like Cryosat, the technologies and techniques involved, the data generated, and its uses and challenges.

You’ll also explore the role of ice in the climate system and the impact of climate change on the Greenland ice sheet.

This course is part of the Environmental Challenges program, which will enable you to explore how people and nature interact and earn 10 credits from the University of Leeds.

Complex patterns in ecology are not always causal and predictable. Populations have their own dynamics that can be independent of external environmental conditions. In this course we look at the way that natural systems are organised; although living systems are complex, there are also some fairly constant patterns and relationships.

This course explores three approaches to the causality and dynamics of environmental systems, and how humans are involved and affected by these systems worldwide. It also includes an introduction to correlation and the limitations of statistical testing.... [-]

War and conflict can severely disrupt the governance of the environment. What is the impact on both people and the environment? This course is part of the Environmental Challenges program, which will enable you to explore how people and nature interact and earn 10 credits from the University of Leeds.

The human conflict has both short and long-term effects on the natural world. The environment is directly impacted by pollution and explosions and can be used as a weapon of war. In the longer term, sustainable environmental management is disrupted when conflict destabilizes social systems and people are denied access to natural resources. As resources become scarcer, it might be expected that people come into conflict about access to natural resources. This course explores three aspects of conflict and resource scarcity and applies these to explore decision making and negotiation skills.... [-]

Current water challenges require an interdisciplinary approach.Through practical field work, international perspectives and innovative educational methods, students will better understand the interactions between environmental factors and anthropogenic activities.

Urban Management Tools for Climate Change

IHS is proud to announce that this course is jointly developed with UN-HABITAT.

Cities are increasingly expected to undertake concrete actions to mitigate climate change and adapt the city to rising water levels, drought and other natural disasters related to the heating of earth. What concrete activities should a city undertake and what works? This course offers management tools for urban policy makers, planners and environmentalists.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to prepare local climate change plans, which address the global challenges yet focus on concrete local actions. The course will offer specific practices to manage urban design and environmental infrastructure, in particular energy, transport, housing and water.... [-]