701-0016-00L Philosophical Issues in Understanding Global Change
| Semester | Frühjahrssemester 2019 |
| Dozierende | C. J. Baumberger, R. Knutti |
| Periodizität | jährlich wiederkehrende Veranstaltung |
| Lehrveranstaltung | Findet dieses Semester nicht statt. |
| Lehrsprache | Englisch |
| Kommentar | Maximale Teilnehmerzahl: 9. MSc Studierenden (Master in Atmosperic and Climate Science) und Doktoranden von D-ERDW und D-USYS haben Vorrang. |
Lehrveranstaltungen
| Nummer | Titel | Umfang | Dozierende | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 701-0016-00 S | Philosophical Issues in Understanding Global Change Findet dieses Semester nicht statt. | 1 Std. | C. J. Baumberger, R. Knutti |
Katalogdaten
| Kurzbeschreibung | This course investigates the potentials and limitations of models and computer simulations that aim at understanding global change. We also discuss the limitations of observations and the role that results from models and computer simulations may take in decision making on policies for sustainable development. |
| Lernziel | Students learn to reflect on concepts, methods, arguments and knowledge claims based upon computer simulations by critically analysing and assessing topical and recent research papers from philosophy and the sciences. |
| Inhalt | Global change is not just a major real-world problem, but also a challenge for the natural and social sciences. The challenge is due to the spatial and temporal scales considered, the diversity, complexity and variability of aspects involved, and, last but not least, the pragmatic and normative questions raised by global change. This course investigates the potentials and limits of research methods such as modelling for understanding global change with a focus on climate change. We also discuss the role of results from modelling and computer simulations in decision making on policies for sustainable development. In the seminar, topics such as the following are discussed: (1) What is a model? What are purposes and potential pitfalls of models? What are the basic steps of modelling? (2) What are computer simulations and what is their relation to models? How do we learn about the real world by running computer simulations? How do computer simulations differ from classical experiments? (3) What do data tell us about the problem we are investigating? What are the difficulties in assessing and interpreting data? (4) What is the role of results from modelling and computer simulation in decision making on policies for sustainable development? What are the consequences of model uncertainties for policy making? |
| Skript | A set of papers from philosophy and from science to be discussed and a guide to analyzing texts are provided. |
| Literatur | The papers to be discussed in the seminar sessions and guidelines about the analysis of texts are provided. |
| Voraussetzungen / Besonderes | This seminar is offered at the ETH and the University of Bern. There are four seminar sessions, each lasting 4 hours. The sessions take place from 13:45 to 17:15. The places alternate between Zurich and Berne in the following way DATUM Berne, BHF Soz. Arbeit, Raum 310, Hallerstrasse 10 DATUM Zurich, CHN P12 Universitätstrasse 16 DATUM Berne, BHF Soz. Arbeit, Raum 310, Hallerstrasse 10 DATUM Zurich, CHN P12 Universitätstrasse 16 In the first meeting, participants are introduced to methods on how to read a philosophical paper. For each meeting, every participant answers a couple of questions about one of the papers scheduled for discussion. The preparation for each session will take about 5 hours. Answers have to be sent to the lecturers before the seminar takes place and provide a basis for the discussion. All students that have subscribed will get the questions and texts for the first meeting by email. Seminar discussions are chaired jointly by lecturers from philosophy and from science. Interest in interdisciplinary reading and discussion is a prerequisite. The number of participants is limited to 18, viz. 9 from the University of Bern and 9 from ETH Zurich. Requirements for 2 CP: (1) Answer the questions about one paper before the meetings and read another paper (4 times), (2) Write a short essay of about 2-3 pages about a topic discussed in our meetings. This essay should be delivered until 3 weeks after the end of the spring semester. Master or PhD students of D-USYS or students of Atmosph. + Climate Science MSc have priority. |
Leistungskontrolle
| Information zur Leistungskontrolle (gültig bis die Lerneinheit neu gelesen wird) | |
Leistungskontrolle als Semesterkurs | |
| ECTS Kreditpunkte | 2 KP |
| Prüfende | C. J. Baumberger, R. Knutti |
| Form | unbenotete Semesterleistung |
| Prüfungssprache | Englisch |
| Repetition | Repetition nur nach erneuter Belegung der Lerneinheit möglich. |
Lernmaterialien
| Keine öffentlichen Lernmaterialien verfügbar. | |
| Es werden nur die öffentlichen Lernmaterialien aufgeführt. |
Gruppen
| Keine Informationen zu Gruppen vorhanden. |
Einschränkungen
| Plätze | Maximal 9 |
| Vorrang | Die Belegung der Lerneinheit ist bis 21.02.2019 nur durch die primäre Zielgruppe möglich |
| Primäre Zielgruppe | Atmospheric and Climate Science MSc (661000)
Doktorat Erd- und Planetenwissenschaften (664002) Doktorat EAPS ETH-UZH (665000) Doktorat EAPS UZH-ETH (665100) Umweltnaturwissenschaften MSc (736000) Doktorat Umweltnaturwissenschaften (739002) |
| Warteliste | Bis 13.03.2019 |
Angeboten in
| Studiengang | Bereich | Typ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Umweltnaturwissenschaften Master | Ergänzung in Globaler Wandel und Nachhaltigkeit | W |  |
| Umweltnaturwissenschaften Master | Anwendungen | W | |
| Umweltnaturwissenschaften Master | Wahlfächer | W | |