Summer school in scotland water energy food 2017 abertay university

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Summer School

Water - Energy - Food Nexus Science, Engineering and Technology

ABERTAY UNIVERSITY Abertay University is an internationally recognized institution dating back to 1888. Abertay is home to world-leading research teams, whose discoveries are hailed internationally. We are Scotland’s leading university for environmental science research, with cutting-edge initiatives such as the SIMBIOS unit exploring soil bioinformatics; the Abertay Centre for the Environment promoting ‘green’ business practices; and the Urban Water Technology Centre developing innovative new drainage and pollution-control technology. Abertay is right at the heart of the bustling city of Dundee, combining all the advantages of a close-knit campus with the buzz of city life. Abertay is a global community, hosting students from over 70 countries, but at the same time our small size gives our campus a warm and friendly feel. We look forward to welcoming you to the Abertay family!

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Summ er S cho ol i n S c o t l a nd The summer school involved lectures and workshops at Abertay University and several exciting visits to field and industrial locations. The combination of classroom learning and external visits has been designed specifically to complement and enhance learning through personal observations, development of critical thinking skills, social and cultural awareness and to enable students to gain meaningful, hands-on experiences directly linked to course objectives and course assessment. The visit locations have been especially chosen for this summer school to showcase Scotland as a sustainability leader.

It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity coming to Scotland to study, so we want to make sure you see the best our amazing country has to offer. There are trips and excursions planned every weekend of the summer school to showcase the magnificent beauty of Scotland, from the rugged castles of the south to the stunning majesty of the Highlands. You’ll also have free time to explore the exciting city of Dundee and make it your home. We want you to most of every moment of your four weeks in Scotland!

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‘Water-Energ y-Fo o d N e xu s’ Securing a sustainable supply of water, energy and food is a key global issue. With an increasing population and increasing demand for land, food, energy and water, a clear understanding of how these issues are interconnected and how these demands can be managed is essential for future sustainable development and sustainable economies. Limits on exploitation of resources, while balancing pressures of urbanization and production, will increase the strain on local, national and international resources. Understanding these pressures and applying appropriate environmental and economic coordination between the water, energy, food and environment sectors is fraught with difficulties at the national level, but the complexity increases substantially in transboundary basins where the impacts spread from one country to another.

Water, energy and food systems are interconnected. The Nexus approach to managing interlinked resources has emerged as a way to enhance water, energy and food security by increasing efficiency, reducing trade-offs, building synergies and improving governance, while protecting ecosystems management. This unified approach is now vital to ensure sustainable development in the future.

This summer school will explore the interdependencies between the different systems and resources to improve our understanding and our ability to effectively manage them.

This complex area of enquiry presents multi-dimensional research challenges that require multi- and inter-disciplinary approaches to address them. The Abertay University academic staff contributing to this summer school are actively involved in sustainability research internationally, and as a student on this program you will be able to explore environmental management and sustainability issues with global relevance within a Scottish context.

cost and cred i ts* The summer school costs $5,000 and is worth 4 US credits.

This fee includes tuition, accommodation, and transportation for all field trips and cultural visits. It does not include flights, airport transfers or food.

To guarantee your space, your application and a 25% non-refundable deposit must be submitted to Abertay University by March 15, 2017 Subsequent payments are due on the following schedule:

April 15: 25% May 15: 50% *Abertay University reserves the right to cancel the summer school if less than 10 enrolments are registered.

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‘W A T E R EN ERG Y FO OD N EXUS’ Summer School Programme 2017*

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Monday 5 June – Friday 30 June 2017 Arrival in Dundee no later than 4 June 2017 Week 1 Date

10.00 - 12noon

12noon - 2.00pm

Monday 5 June

Welcome breakfast and orientation

Tuesday 6 June

Field visit 1 Environmental management for sustainable resource use Topics include exploring land and food relationships within the rural economy.

Wednesday 7 June Thursday 8 June

Friday 9 June

Classroom Day Field visit 1 de-brief

Lunch

2.00pm - 5.00pm

Lunch

Campus tour; walking tour of Dundee

Discussion about the assessment, preparation for field visit 2.

Field visit 2 Scotland – A Hydro Nation Topics include drinking water quality and supply, recreational and economic value, hydropower, flooding, water regulation, policy and politics.

Week 1 recap; prep for field visit 3

Free time

Saturday 10 June

Weekend excursion to the Scottish Highlands

Sunday 11 June

Weekend excursion to the Scottish Highlands

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Week 2 Date

12noon - 2.00pm

2.00pm - 5.00pm

Monday 12 June

Weekend excursion to the Scottish Highlands

Tuesday 13 June

Field visit 3 Environmental management for sustainable resource use Topics include exploring land and food relationships within the rural economy.

Wednesday 14 June Thursday 15 June

Classroom Day Field visit 3 de-brief

Lunch

Prep for field visit 4: urban/built environment issues and sustainable buildings

Field visit 4 Edinburgh Topics include politics, policy and sustainability [Scottish Parliament]; historic and modern urban development.

Friday 16 June

Week 1 recap; prep for field visit 3

Saturday 17 June

Cultural visit: Stirling

Sunday 18 June

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10.00 - 12noon

Free time

Lunch

Group work on assessment; introduction to week 3

Week 3 Date

10.00 - 12noon

12noon - 2.00pm

Monday 19 June

Classroom Day Lectures and activities defining the ‘nexus’ and applying your knowledge

Tuesday 20 June

Field visit 5 Food production Topic include investigating agricultural systems, precision agriculture, organic farming, food [and bio-fuel] production

Wednesday 21 June

Thursday 22 June

Lunch

2.00pm - 5.00pm Lectures and discussions Sustainability/environmental management; field visit 5 prep

Classroom Day Making sense of the information - data handling and decision support techniques.

Lunch

Workshop Presenting data in your summer school assessment

Classroom Day Communicating the message and encouraging good practice.

Lunch

Investigating visualisation methods for sustainability assessment and communication; field visit 6 prep

Friday 23 June

Field visit 6 Industrial and environmental combined visit

Saturday 24 June

Cultural visit Explore Scottish Castles Dunnottar Castle, Glamis Castle and the surrounding area.

Sunday 25 June

Free time

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Week 4 Date

10.00 - 12noon

12noon - 2.00pm

2.00pm - 4.00pm

Monday 26 June

Classroom Date Field visit 6 de-brief.

Lunch

Group work Address the problem, prepare presentation.

Tuesday 27 June

Workshops and support for work on individual assessments and final group presentation

Lunch

Group work Address the problem, prepare presentation.

Wednesday 28 June

Workshops and support for work on individual assessments and final group presentation.

Lunch

Group work Address the problem, prepare presentation.

Final group presentation..

Lunch

Final group presentation

Thursday 29 June Friday 30 June Saturday 1 July

Optional trip to St Andrews

Closing Dinner

Departure

* Disclaimer: All cultural visits and field trips are indicative only and the timing and location may change depending on the weather conditions.

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How to Apply The application and deposit information can be found on Abertay University’s website: http://www.abertay.ac.uk/studying/international-summer-schools/D Questions? Please contact: Adrienne McLaughlin International Summer Schools Co-ordinator Abertay University, Bell Street, Dundee, Scotland, UK DD1 1HG T: 0044 1382 308538 E: international@abertay.ac.uk

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Abertay University is an operating name of the University of Abertay Dundee, a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC016040.