Systems approach for the management of Natural Resources (7,5 ECTS)
Everything you eat, use or do has an impact. Doing something in one place may cause a problem somewhere else. How to keep our planet alive and healthy? Learn how maps and Earth observation can help in taking the right decisions. Subscribe to our course “Systems approach for the management of natural resources”
Aim
This course aims to teach you:
- the application of systems thinking when translating complex real-world situations into conceptual models to solve NRM problems
- explain and take into account space and time aspects when designing solutions to NRM problems
The puzzle of natural resource management
Approach
We need scientifically-sound NRM decisions. Especially now that “climate change impacts”, “bio-based” and “green” are hot but frequently misused in economical sales arguments. What are and where do we see the consequences of climate change, bio-based and green? How do we balance exploitation and conservation of resources on our planet? To find answers involves skills in developing conceptual models. We train you in breaking down complex NRM problems into manageable pieces. You will be challenged to unravel cause effect relationships and to select the appropriate spatial variables to be measured. Practicing application and communication of geo-information will help you solving natural resource management problems in your home situation.
- The course has a multi-disciplinary character. It builds further on your professional background by sharing with and learning from others.
- You are introduced to a selection of relevant concepts. You also will apply these concepts, techniques and tools in various assignments.
- This course emphasizes analytical reasoning and critical thinking when working with geographical data and products.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:
- Define NRM and describe the role of sustainable development.
- Explain stakeholder behavior and perform basic stakeholder analysis in NRM context.
- Design conceptual models illustrating how natural systems work and how humans influence them.
- Analyze and discuss geo-spatial and temporal information for stakeholders to address NRM issues.
- Identify researchable topics based on initial description and understanding of a system within an NRM context.
- Apply geo-information to communicate real-life NRM issues based on scientific understanding.
Besides dealing with the concepts of NRM, you will be further trained in basic academic skills. These will help you in courses to come and as a professional in future projects and research.
You also will be able to:
- conduct a well-targeted literature search strategy
- demonstrate a critical and independent learning attitude
- communicate to a larger audience
Course content
Topics that you will deal with:
- Concepts of NRM
- Sustainability
- Actors and objectives in NRM
- Intro to systems thinking and systems analysis
- Hypothesis formulation
- Spatial and temporal aspects of systems
- Project
Entrance requirements
Basic admission of the Faculty ITC of the University of Twente and of Lund University and basics in remote sensing and GIS.