Jasmin Mertens: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2018 |
| Name | Dr. Jasmin Mertens |
| Department | Humanities, Social and Political Sciences |
| Relationship | Lecturer |
| Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 860-0012-00L | Cooperation and Conflict Over International Water Resources  Number of participants limited to 30. STP students have priority. This is a research seminar at the Master level. PhD students are also welcome. | 3 credits | 2S + 2A | B. Wehrli, T. Bernauer, J. Mertens | |
| Abstract | This course focuses on the technical, economic, and political challenges of dealing with water allocation and pollution problems in large international river basins. It examines ways and means through which such challenges are addressed, and when and why international efforts in this respect succeed or fail. | ||||
| Objective | The students get an overview of (1) causes and consequences of water scarcity and water pollution problems in large international river basins; (2) they understand concepts and policies to assess and mitigate such water challenges, and (3) they analyze when and why international efforts in this respect succeed or fail. | ||||
| Content | Based on lectures and discussion of scientific papers students acquire basic knowledge on contentious issues in managing international water resources, on the determinants of cooperation and conflict over international water issues, and on ways and means of mitigating conflict and promoting cooperation. Students will then, in small teams coached by the instructors do research on a case of their choice (i.e. an international river basin where riparian countries are trying to find solutions to water allocation and/or water quality problems). They will write a brief paper and present their findings during a final meeting at the end of the semester. The first 5 and the last 2 dates are reserved for lectures and seminars, during which presence of students is obligatory. | ||||
| Lecture notes | slides and papers will be distributed electronically. | ||||
| Literature | The UN World Water Development Report 2015 provides a broad overview of the topic http://www.unwater.org/publications/publications-detail/en/c/281166/ | ||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The course is open to Master and PhD students from any area of ETH. Replaces 701-0462-01L "The Science and Politics of International Water Management". Students who got credits for this course in the past, cannot register here. ISTP students who take this course should also register for the course 860-0012-01L - Cooperation and conflict over international water resources; In-depth case study. | ||||
| 860-0012-01L | Cooperation and Conflict Over International Water Resources, In-Depth Case Study Only for Science, Technology, and Policy MSc and PhD students Prerequisite: you have to be enrolled in 860-0012-00L during the same semester. | 3 credits | 2A | B. Wehrli, T. Bernauer, J. Mertens | |
| Abstract | Students write an individual term paper on technical, economic, and political water challenges in an international context. Coached by one of the instructors, students develop and write a case study that examines ways and means to address a specific challenge, and to evaluate success or failure of international collaboration. | ||||
| Objective | In developing their individual term paper, the students broaden their overview of (1) causes and consequences of water scarcity and water pollution problems in an international context; (2) they assess concepts and policies to mitigate a specific water challenge, and (3) they analyze determinants of success or failure of international collaboration in the water sectors. | ||||
| Content | In the basic course on Cooperation and Conflict... 860-0012-00L the students students acquire basic knowledge on contentious issues in managing international water resources, on the determinants of cooperation and conflict over international water issues, and on ways and means of mitigating conflict and promoting cooperation. In this course, which is reserved to STP students, the participants will be individually coached by one of the instructors and do research and develop a case-study paper on an international water challenge of their choice. The topic should avoid overlap with the work in course 860-0012-00L. | ||||
| Lecture notes | see 860-0012-00L | ||||
| Literature | In a global context, the targets of sustainable development goal 6 serve as a possible starting point: http://bit.ly/2yVARMG In the European context, the implementation reports of the Water Framework Directive represent another reference frame: http://bit.ly/2y5NPLl | ||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | This course is reserved for STP students who participate in the basic course on Cooperation and Conflict Over International Water Resources 860-0012-00L. STP students should sign up for both courses, 860-0012-00L and 860-0012-01L. | ||||