AGWA-led Course at Oregon State University
AGWA's Coordinator Dr. John Matthews will be teaching an upcoming course on "Climate-Resilient Resource Management." The one-week immersive course at Oregon State University will run from 25-29 June, 2018 at the Corvallis, OR campus (USA). It is a graduate level course designed for current grad students or professionals seeking additional training in the latest climate adaptation trends and perspectives.
Registration is now open for the course. All students will pay in-state tuition for Summer Term courses. Oregon State University provides step-by-step instructions on how to register for anyone not already a student there.
About the Course: Climate-Resilient Resource ManagementHow do we sustain natural resources given a dynamic climate and an uncertain future? The serious practice of climate adaptation is little more than a decade old, with many elements that are controversial and rapidly evolving. The science of climate impacts, in most cases, does not provide effective guidance about how to define sustainable resource management.
Students will explore the cutting-edge science of climate adaptation through readings and case studies. They will learn from an international set of experts drawing from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Topics:
Introduction to the issues, concepts, and specific terminology of climate science
Lecture and discussion will address questions such as: What does it mean to be sustainable? Can sustainability be a moving target? What is the difference between climate mitigation and climate adaptation? Where do terms like robustness, resilience and flexibility/adaptability fit in?
We will cover many of the underlying principles behind the nascent field of climate adaptation with particular attention to the special risks and challenges associated with long-term sustainable water management.
Stationary vs. Non-stationary Decision-Making
The class will explore impacts of decision-making, addressing questions such as: Can we achieve sustainability without fixed targets? Do we know how to think about sustainable water management over those timescales? In particular, how do we make decisions in a non-stationary world?
Discussion will focus on several novel approaches to sustainable water management, including: Decision Scaling, Eco-Engineering Decision Scaling, and Adaptation Pathways approaches.
Vulnerability Assessment
Vulnerability assessments are an important tool to help water resource managers frame uncertainties. They are often achieved by conducting what is known as a “stress test.” This discussion will focus on the phases of vulnerability assessments, the factors involved, and the purposes behind “stress testing” scenarios.
Strategy Development and Designing Adaptive Plans
Lecture and discussion will focus on questions surrounding development of appropriate strategies and adaptive plans, such as: What criteria are used when determining the most robust strategy? How does one measure the value of a strategy? How can a plan be made adaptive in light of future uncertainties? Students will be guided through stress tests of alternative actions, performance analysis methods, and an exploration of adaptive management approaches.
Implementation, Monitoring, and Policy Linkages
Students will explore the challenges of turning adaptive water management plans into on-the-ground action. This will also entail a broader discussion of the global water-climate policy landscape, water governance, and the linkages between technical and policy programs.