8th LIPHE4 Summer School // Developing Toolkits for Analyzing the Nexus between Land, Water, Food, Energy and Population across Scales

Purpose of the Summer School

The purpose of the Summer School is to familiarize the participants with the theory and possible applications of the MuSIASEM approach (Multi-Scale Integrated Assessment of Society and Ecosystem Metabolism). More specifically this edition of the summer school will deal with the application of the MuSIASEM approach to the analysis of the nexus between land, water, food, energy and population across scales. The courses of the Summer School will cover: The basics of MuSIASEM: Introduction of basic theoretical concepts, such as hierarchy theory, Georgescu-Roegen's fund-flow model, and multi-purpose grammars, which form the building blocks of the MuSIASEM approach. The use of multi-purpose grammars: Learning how to develop quantitative descriptions, using multipurpose grammars, of the metabolic pattern of water, food, and energy in face of a given availability of primary resources, land, and population, and in relation to a desirable expression of functions in modern economies. Application of MuSIASEM to analyze the nexus between land, water, food, energy and population across scales: Step-wise demonstration of the use of the MuSIASEM approach (incl., multi-purpose grammars, multi-level data arrays, and the "sudoku effect") in order to arrive at an integrated characterization of the complex metabolic pattern of modern society and to generate robust scenarios.

Course Format

The five-day Summer Course follows an interactive, dynamic format. Morning lectures are alternated with afternoon working groups. The working groups allow the participants to address practical, problem-oriented, and policy-relevant research projects. Participants will be enabled to conduct studies, organized in small groups, on one of the following proposed topics: (i) comparative, integrated assessment of the metabolic pattern of different countries; (ii) analysis of scenarios of low carbon economies; (iii) integrated analysis of a specific sustainability issue proposed by the participants. At the end of the week the participants are expected to present the results of their group work. The course language is English.

Participant Profile

The course is aimed at advanced students, researchers, and experienced practitioners. Participants are expected to have a good command of written and spoken English, and to have an interest in learning about innovative approaches and ideas related to energy analysis, integrated assessment, and sustainable development. Submission of a résumé is required to determine eligibility for participation. For logistic reasons (formation of working groups), the number of participants is limited to 25 persons. Admission of eligible candidates in the program is on a first come, first serve basis.

Resource Persons

Prof. Mario Giampietro, ICREA Research Professor, Institut de Ciéncia i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA), UAB Prof. Jesús Ramos-Martín, Departament d'Economia i d'Història Econòmica, UAB Dr. Tiziano Gomiero, ICTA, UAB Dr. Pedro Lomas, ICTA, UAB Dr. Alevgul Sorman, ICTA-UAB Mr. Juan Cadillo Benalcazar, ICTA, UAB Ms. Cristina Madrid, ICTA, UAB Mr. François Diaz Maurin, ICTA, UAB Mr. Tarik Serrano Tovar, ICTA, UAB Ms. Zora Kovacic, ICTA, UAB

Venue

The Summer Course will take place on the Bellaterra Campus of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, in the Centre de Recerca Matemà tica (CRM, Building C). The Bellaterra Campus is located about 20 km outside of Barcelona and can be conveniently reached from Barcelona's city centre by Ferrocarril (FGC, line Barcelona-Vallés, destination: Universitat Autònoma). At Plaça Catalunya, take line S2 (green, toward Sabadell) or S55 (blue, toward Universitat Autònoma) and get off at the stop "Universitat Autònoma". The trip takes about 30 minutes and trains leave about every 10 minutes.

Course Fee

Course Fee: 400 € (including morning coffee breaks, lunches, course material, and a social dinner). Late fee (after 1 June 2013): 500 euro. The course fee shall be paid in full to Asoc Cientifica LIPHE4 by Pay-pal or bank transfer.