Course: Mitigating Climate Change
6th-10th June 2011
4 ECTS
Course goal
Climate change is going to affect agriculture and forestry World wide and the consequence of, and solution to, climate change will be a prioritized part of research projects and policies in the coming years. Climate change will affect the agricultural and forestry sector in different way in different regions of the world, and have an influence on future agricultural policies and the food industry sector. The overall goal is to introduce participants to the potentials and limitations for organic food and farming systems to mitigate climate change. They will be introduced to conceptual frameworks, principles and regulations influencing current agricultural and food system policies and the application of these policies in practice. It is a clear aim of the course to stimulate the course participants to reflect upon their role as researchers in forming policies and strategies and influencing the way they are implemented in practice.
The course was held at Ishøj Vandrerhjem, close to Copenhagen.
Get the preliminary course schedule... [pdf]
Registration form... [Word document]
The key learning goals are
After the course the PhD students will be able to
- analyze their own research in relation to climate change challenges and principles for organic food systems and agriculture
- relate organic principles and their practical applications to climate change challenges in different global contexts,
- participate relevantly in processes where researchers service and interact with governments to formulate strategies which respond to the increasing demand to mitigate climate change.
Pre-required knowledge
The participants are expected to have a basic understanding of issues of climate change and organic farming and food systems. Literature to be pre-read is included in the list of literature.
Examination elements
- A pre-course assignment which relates the participants’ own research with climate change and organic principles, practice and regulations
- The pre-course assignment has the format of a poster which is presented at the course.
- Presentation of policy or strategic paper draft elaborated in groups during the course
- Active participation .
Deadline for the examination elements
Each one of examinations elements must be finalized according to the course time plan. The examination element will be assessed by the responsible teachers by the end of the course period and must be of an acceptable level to pass the course.
Pedagogical approach
The pedagogical approach is based on a concept developed over the series of earlier NOVA Courses, consisting of following elements:
- A pre-course assignment which is presented at the course as a poster presentation. This ensures engaged preparation before coming to the course and a common platform for all participants.
- An inspiring research-based learning environment is sought by presenting research examples and linking research from different disciplines and society and by inviting guest teachers.
- Lectures combined with group summary sessions will increase learning outcomes and awareness among participants.
- High degree of interaction during the intensive course and participation by discussion, interactions and presentations will strengthen participants’ competences in argumentation.
Ownership and responsibility for the learning process will strengthen the participants’ competences in reflecting, describing and develop their own research.
Added value from non-Nova teacher(s)
The invited teachers bring expertise of the topic listed in the learning goals and the group work assignments.
List of teachers incl. titles and affiliations and excellences
Main teachers within the NOVA Agro-ecological network:
Mette Vaarst (DJF/AU/DK)
Lene Sigsgaard (LIFE/KU/DK)
Christian Bugge Henriksen (LIFE/KU/DK)
Tor Arvid Breland (UMB/NO)
Erik Steen Jensen (SLU/SW)
Main guest teachers:
Pete Smith (ABDN/UK)
Jørgen E. Olesen (DJF/AU/DK)
Søren O. Petersen (DJF/AU/DK)
Niels Halberg (ICROFS/DK)
John R. Porter (LIFE)
Nordic dimension
Climate change is going to affect agriculture and forestry in the Nordic countries and the consequence of and solution to climate change will be a prioritized part of research projects and policies in the coming years. Due to regional difference in the Nordic countries climate change will affect the agricultural and forestry sector differently and have an influence on agro -policies within the Nordic countries.
Scientific content
The participants will gain competence in assessing climate change research.
The participant would have knowledge and methods to assess and to produce policy impact recommendations.
The Course will include of lectures of four themes under same umbrella/frame. The themes are:
- Agriculture and climate change -how does agriculture affect climate change, and how is it affected by it?
- The potential of organic agriculture to mitigate climate change
- The weaknesses of organic agriculture in relation to climate change
- Policy-Science
Lectures will cover 1. Overview and 2. Windows of specific research topics in relation to climate change research in organic agriculture. The lectures will present up-to-date research and reviews incl. results from speakers’ own research. Literature is given before the course.
The Scientific content of the group work during the course is given by theoretical and practical approach where the participants use the theory and experiences from excursion in a practical assignment.
The excursion will give an example of theory use in practice by a company as how to work with strategy and policy in an enterprise.
Another part of the scientific content is found by focus on scientific discussion and argumentation.
Learning content
The aims of the course is to give the students:
- Get introduced to different climate change research areas
- Get insights into how climate change issues may be integrated into their future research projects
- Get a theoretical framework of policy and use this to reflects on their own research from an policy angel
- Understand the concept of policy recommendations
- Be able to reflect and use own research and transform it into viable recommendation.
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