Practical Course Anthroposphere

Abstract

The subject of this course is the analysis of interactions inhuman-environment systems. The students will develop scenarios and quantify them with an energy systems model, considering natural constraints and social preferences. They will graphically present the scenarios and appraise the relative merits with consumers in self-hosted workshops using multi-criteria analysis.

Objective

Students are able to apply a qualitative and quantitative set of methods to answer an interdisciplinary research question at the intersection of human and environment systems.

Content

The technical, economic, and social feasibility of energy transitions is at the heart of the practical course “Praktikum Anthroposphäre”. Remodeling our energy systems is the highly challenging prerequisite for mitigating climate change, and enabling sustainable development. In order to unravel this problem and assist with associated decision-making, this course teaches a set of mixed qualitative and quantitative methods that representative of a commonly used approaches in applied research and consulting. First, students will learn to use an energy systems model to quantify a set of scenarios offering potential energy futures for Switzerland. Similar systems are a widespread tool for analyzing complex research questions and are frequently used to support public decision-making. It is therefore important to understand such models and their explanatory power and limitations. This exercise teaches students the interactions and trade-offs in an energy system, and how to consider societal preferences and constraints. Second, students will organize stakeholder workshops and analyze public acceptance of the scenarios applying a multi-criteria approach. Multi-criteria analysis (MCA) is a widely used methodology for providing guidance to decision-makers on problems touching many different aspects of people's lives, where it is impossible or undesirable to reduce all outcomes associated with a particular choice to monetary values. Finally, students will summarize and critically reflect on the entire process in a comprehensive project report.

Resources