Entry requirements

BSc. 180 credits in the subject areas: natural sciences, technology and/or social sciences

Learning outcomes

After completed course the students should be able to:

• present basic scientific methodology, falsifiable theories, empirical relations, empirical models and their power of prediction,
• present advantages, disadvantages, and methods in different approaches of decision support and construct decision support systems as a means to combine methods of natural and social sciences,
• order in increasing importance different strategies to combat environmental and societal problems, and identify uncertainty in the methods and their components.

Content

Basic theory of science and methodology. Order of precedence of environmental problems. Predict effects of environmental measures. Cost-benefit analysis. Overview, multicriteria analysis. Evaluating a sound living environment with help of utility functions. Computer exercises where the students are simulating environmental effects and suggest a decision support system for contaminated lakes.

Instruction

Lectures. Computer exercises. Project work. Literature studies.

Assessment

Presentation of a project work.