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Transdisciplinary course on sustainability sciences

Extend your theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of sustainability sciences

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CIVIS focus area
Climate, environment and energy
Open to
  • Bachelor's
Field of studies
  • Art, Design and Media
  • Business and Management
  • Computer Science and IT
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Environment & Agriculture
  • Law
  • Medicine and Health
  • Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  • Social Science and humanities
  • Environmental sciences, Urbanism, Geography
Type
  • CIVIS Hub 1
Course dates
10 August - 9 September 2022

This course is organised by 3 CIVIS member universities: The University of Bucharest, Sapienza Università di Romà and Stockholm University

The course is for students who gravitate towards building knowledge in sustainability studies, who seek a course that feeds their passion for conserving the environment and natural resources, combating climate changes, etc.

The course is organised into 6 modules that provide a clear path for students to progress. It will provide students with the opportunity to extend their theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of sustainability sciences.

The course is designed with particular reference to the following SDGs of the UN Agenda 2030: SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation; SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG 13 - Climate Action; SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. 

Main topics addressed

Introduction to the Transdisciplinary Course on Sustainability Science (2 hours)

Module 1. Energy-environmental sustainability (1 ECTS):

  • Sustainable development in the decarbonization process
  • Hydrogen generation from non-edible waste bioresources

Module 2. Raw materials and recycling (1 ECTS):

  • Urban mining and sustainable use of resources
  • Biodiesel manufacture by chemical and bio-catalysis
  • Plant and soil resources and their recycling in agricultural systems

Module 3. Sustainable mobility (1 ECTS):

  • Policies and measures for sustainable mobility
  • Transportation system efficiency: Spatial representation of mobility degrees in urbanized areas
  • Journal Club: A transdisciplinary Case Study – part I

Module 4. Hydroclimatology (1 ECTS):

  • Water Cycle and Climate Change
  • Sustainable flood risk management and adaptation to climate change
  • The impact of drought and extreme events in drylands

Module 5. Ecosystem services and sustainable cities (1 ECTS):

  • Urban and peri-urban forests to improve environmental quality and human wellbeing
  • Principles of ecosystem-based approach in planning sustainable cities
  • Protected Areas and their Ecosystem Services and Functions

Module 6. Environmental law and ethics (1 ECTS):

  • The law of sustainable development in the European Union
  • Environmental Ethics: from Theory to Practice
  • Journal Club: A transdisciplinary Case Study – part II

Learning outcomes

In the present society, it is essential to spread the culture of sustainable and responsible development as stated in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN Agenda 2030 and by recent EU Strategies including that for Biodiversity to 2030: “Bringing nature back into our lives”. In fact, it is necessary to put an end to the loss of biodiversity and to preserve and enhance the processes that characterise the functioning of ecosystems and the set of goods and services provided by natural resources for human health and well-being.

Furthermore, development-oriented research towards sustainability can offer new job opportunities, through the innovation of processes and products and the creation of new skills, enhancing the Human Capital and, thus, giving impetus to a circular economy. 

Dates: 10 August - 9 September 2022 ECTS: 6*
Format: Virtual Contact hours: 36
Language: English Individual workload: 100 hours

* Recognition of ECTS depends on your home university. 

Schedule

There will be 18 sessions of 2 hours for a total of 36 hours of virtual direct activities between students and professors.

Requirements

This course is open to Bachelor's students from all educational backgrounds at one of CIVIS member universities or African partner universities. A maximum of 25 students from CIVIS and Mediterranean/African universities will be accepted in the course.

Application process

Students should send a CV in Europass format and a motivation letter to delia.popescu@chimie.unibuc.ro by 8 August 2022. 

The motivation letter should cover the reasons why students want to participate and how they anticipate benefiting from it / how they will use the competencies acquired.

Selected students will be notified by 9 August 2022.

Assessment

  • Presentation of a transdisciplinary case study
  • Final test - multiple choice questions

General Eligibility Criteria for CIVIS Courses

Applicants need to be enrolled at their home university in order to be eligible for selection and participation.  If uncertain about your status at your home university (part-time or exchange students etc) please check with your home university’s website or International Office. 

Applicants who will be receiving other Erasmus funds for the duration of the course are not entitled to funding. Participation in the course may still be possible under “zero-grant” status, but applicants should contact their home university in order to confirm this. 

A list of links and contacts for each university can be found in this Q&A.

GDPR Consent

The CIVIS alliance and its member universities will treat the information you provide with respect. Please refer to our privacy policy for more information on our privacy practices. By applying to this course you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

Coordinators of the course

  • Delia-Laura Popescu, Vice-Dean, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest
  • Livio De Santoli, Deputy Rector for Sustainability and Energy Policies, Sapienza Università di Roma
  • Anna Treydte, Associate Professor in Nature and Environmental Management, Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University

Instructors involved in the course:

Sapienza Università di Roma:

  1. Livio De Santoli, Department of Astronautics Electric and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Industrial Engineering 
  2. Fausto Manes, Department of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences
  3. Silvia Serranti, Department of Chemical Engineering, Materials & Environment, Faculty of Civil and Industrial Engineering
  4. Francesco Cioffi, Department of Civil, Constructional and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Industrial and Civil Engineering
  5. Luca Persia, Department of Civil, Constructional and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Industrial and Civil Engineering
  6. Angelo Lalli, Department of Legal Sciences, Faculty of Law, and a qualified lawyer in higher jurisdictions

University of Bucharest:

  1. Delia-Laura Popescu, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry
  2. Rodica Zăvoianu Department of Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Catalysis, Faculty of Chemistry
  3. Octavian D. Pavel, Department of Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Catalysis, Faculty of Chemistry 
  4. Athanasios Gavrilidis, Department Regional Geography and Environment, Faculty of Geography
  5. Gabriela Ioana-Toroimac, Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, Faculty of Geography
  6. Mihai Razvan Nita, Head of Department Regional Geography and Environment, Faculty of Geography 

Stockholm University:

  1. Anna Treydte, Department of Physical Geography
  2. Stuart Smith, Department of Physical Geography