GEO INFO SYSTEMS (GIS) FOR SUST SCIENCE
Many environmental and sustainability science issues have a spatial, location-based component. Increasingly available spatial data allow location-specific analysis and solutions to problems and understanding issues. As result, analyzing and identifying successful and sustainable solutions for these issues often requires the use of spatial analysis and tools. This course introduces common spatial data types and fundamental methods to organize, visualize and analyze those data using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Through a combination of lectures and practical computer activities the students will learn and practice fundamental GIS and spatial analysis methods using typical sustainable science case studies and scenarios. A key objective of this course is to provide students with essential GIS skills that will aid them in their professional career and to offer an overview of current GIS applications. In the first part, the course will cover basic spatial data types and GIS concepts. The students will apply those techniques by analyzing potential impacts of storms on New York City as part of a guided case study. A mid-term report describing this case study and the results is required. In the second part, building on the basic concepts introduced in the first part, students will be asked to identify a sustainable science question of their choice that they would like to address as a final project. Together with the instructor they will be developing a strategy of analyzing and presenting related spatial data. While the students are working on their projects additional GIS method and spatial analysis concepts will be covered in class. At the end of the course Students will briefly present their final project and submit a paper describing their project. This course does not assume that students have had any previous experience with GIS.
- M 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Frank Nitsche
CULPA: 1 h-index: 29 Info - 3 points
Scientific Programming for Sustainabilit
STATS, DATA, ANLYS&CODING
Students in the Master of Science in Sustainability Science program will encounter a range of scientific problems throughout their Science-specific courses that require a strong working knowledge of computer programming. This course provides an introduction to scientific programming using Python. Computer coding skills gained in the course will prepare students for coursework in the Master of Science in Sustainability Science program as well as to succeed in a career having a programming component. Students enrolled in this course will learn through lectures, class discussion, and hands-on exercises that address the following topics:
Basics of computer programming, including precision of variables, arrays and data structures, input/output, control flow, and subroutines.
Applying Python to read common scientific data formats, including NetCDF for gridded climate and other environmental data.
Applying Python for data analysis, with a focus on popular machine learning methods including linear regression, decision trees, neural networks, principal component analysis, and clustering.
Applying Python to visualize scientific data through basic X-Y plots as well as images of data fields on a global map.
This course will train students to analyze and model scientific data using Python in order to better understand current and future environments and their interactions with human systems. By learning analysis and modeling with Python, students will be better able to inform sustainability policy, management, and decision-making.
- T 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Michael Previdi
Info - 3 points
Machine Learning in Sustainability Scien
This course is for students who wish to participate in a hands-on, project-based, exploration of how machine learning (ML) can be harnessed to tackle challenges in sustainability science. Students will work collaboratively on a semester-long coding project, applying ML techniques to real sustainability problems in data analysis and visualization. Along the way, they will sharpen their skills in AI-assisted coding with tools such as ChatGPT, using these technologies not just to write and debug code more efficiently, but also to enhance creativity, streamline collaboration, and bring complex ideas to life. By the end of the course, students will have experienced the full arc of designing, building, and refining an ML solution with direct relevance to the future of our planet.
This course equips students with experience using advanced scientific and computational tools for tackling environmental and sustainability challenges. Through AI-assisted coding of ML solutions, students develop creative approaches to analyzing, modeling, and interpreting state-of-the-art observations of Earth systems using rigorous, quantitative methods. Guided readings and discussion will help students achieve mastery of the subject. The class takes place in a project-based setting where students collaborate on a semester-long project, requiring them to plan together, manage tasks, and integrate diverse skills in applying scientific principles to real-world problems. In doing so, the course not only deepens technical expertise but also strengthens students’ ability to provide data-driven insights that inform sustainability decision-making.
- R 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
-
Instructor:
James L Davis
h-index: 57 Info - 3-4 points
MONITORING AND ANALYSIS OF COASTAL MARIN
MARINE & ESTUARY SYSTEMS
From a global perspective, many of the earth’s most important environments and resources for global sustainability are located in marine and estuarine areas. This class will explore open-ocean and estuarine processes, reviewing what is known about the temporal variability and interconnectedness of these physical and biologic systems.. A few examples include; 1.) oceanic environments were incompletely understood processes regulate the exchange of heat, water and carbon dioxide gas with the atmosphere, 2.) the relationship between nutrients and primary production and fisheries in open ocean, estuarine and coral reef environments and climatic phenomenon such as El Niño South Oscillation (ENSO), the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). 3.) For estuaries, current sea level and urbanization stresses on the coastal environments will be discussed. Professionals working in the environmental and engineering fields will benefit from a wide-ranging discussion of the multi-scaled processes influencing estuaries. Knowledge of the processes operating in these environments will lead to a more thorough understanding of the complex issues that may influence infrastructure and coastal development in and around estuarine environments in the near-future. Throughout the class we will explore marine and estuarine processes by studying regional and local responses to broader scale climatic forcing. Reading of textbook chapters and journal articles will supplement in-class lectures and discussion. Grading will be based on class participation, a two exams and a research paper. At the end of the course, students will have a strong scientific understanding about the impacts made on marine and estuary systems through physical, chemical, and biological processes. The course will prepare students to be well-trained in the core features of these systems and the relationship between natural and human processes, and equip them with the skills needed to explore marine and estuary systems in diverse scales and functions in the future.
- W 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Braddock Linsley
h-index: 42 Info - 3 points
Environmental Investigation and Sustaina
ENV INVESTIGATION &REMEDI
Environmental Investigation and Sustainable Remediation covers the major steps in the investigation, assessment and remediation of contaminated sites. The course will introduce the student to the multidisciplinary aspects of environmental remediation including sustainability considerations, an important background for any environmental career, such as an environmental consultant, a corporate remediation manager or a government regulator. Management and remediation of contaminated sites is an important consideration in sustainable regional development, since failure to control contamination usually yields an ever-increasing area of impact, with greater environmental and societal costs. Using US EPA Superfund guidance as a framework, the course will explore the major steps in identifying a site, establishing the degree of contamination, identifying the likely ecological and human receptors, and selecting and implementing a remedial action. Sustainable remediation in particular has received increased emphasis by the EPA and is now a required component of remedy selection. The Superfund process has been extensively developed through more than 30 years of legislature and agency guidance, and now provides a robust approach for pollution assessment and remediation. Contaminated sites typically involve a broad spectrum of contaminants across at least two media, including soils, sediments, groundwater, surface water, and air. This course examines the main steps involved in environmental investigation and remediation primarily from a technical perspective, although legal aspects will be incorporated at the major decision points in the process. In particular, the course will focus on the main environmental sampling and analytical techniques needed to conduct a remedial investigation, and cover some of the main remedial engineering considerations for the successful selection and implementation of a sustainable and resilient remedy. Students will be assigned one of several completed Superfund sites to track the application of the Superfund process to a real-world example as the class proceeds, providing a regular link between theory and application.
- W 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Edward A Garvey
Info - 3 points
Agroecology - A Natural Climate Solution
Agroecology A Natural Cli
Natural climate solutions (NCS) refer to actions aimed at protecting, better managing, and restoring nature to achieve climate goals. Adopting sustainable, climate-smart agricultural practices following agroecology principles provides a cost-effective NCS pathway to mitigate climate change, while also ensuring food security and environmental sustainability. This course will introduce the principles of agroecology, the key concepts of carbon and nitrogen dynamics, as well as the commonly adopted agroecological practices across various agricultural landscapes, including croplands, grasslands, and agroforestry systems. A combination of lectures, discussions, and field activities will be utilized to demonstrate how agroecological practices can be monitored in terms of their influence on ecosystem services.
This course will prepare students to apply principles of sustainability science to improved soil and agricultural management, addressing the growing need for better adoption of land based NCS. This course will also delve into the technological aspects of NCS monitoring that will help working professionals in conservation, environmental, and sustainable business organizations develop the necessary skills to evaluate the outcomes of sustainable land management practices to inform management decisions, policy making, and incentive-based programs. This elective course aims to connect scientific methods with decision-making processes to prepare students to be leaders in sustainability and make impacts on both local and large-scale climate issues.
Sustainability and Resilience of Tropica
Course Overview
SUSC PS5410 -
Tropical Highland Ecosystems - Vietnam
is an intensive, field-based sustainability course that immerses students in the study of tropical highland ecosystems from within an area that is home to two UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserves; Núi Chúa (Khánh Hòa Province, with Núi Chúa National Park as the core zone) and Lang Biang (Lâm Đồng Province, with Bidoup–Núi Bà National Park as the core zone). These two regions span an ecological transect from coastal drylands and marine ecosystems to high-elevation montane and cloud forests and is home to multiple indigenous peoples, highlighting their exceptional biodiversity and cultural value. Their recognition under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program illustrates their international significance as areas for balancing conservation and sustainable development.
The significance of tropical highlands becomes increasingly apparent as the global climate warms and sea level rise forces migration away from deltaic lowlands. Critical ecosystems services provided by these highland environments are threatened not only by a warming climate, but also by changes in land use and increased population. Local indigenous people have survived in these highlands for generations, and are particularly at risk from these changes, comprise one of our main areas of interest. Furthermore, we will be immersed within an area of high biodiversity and endemism, with more than 14 tropical ecosystems that serve as home to numerous endangered species, including the sun bear, the antelope-like saola, giant and Truong Son muntjacs (barking deer), and the gray-shanked douc langur. The region is also rich in endemic plant species, including the enigmatic krempfii pine that is found only in the Central Highlands, and several other rare or endemic conifers. A single highland forest can exhibit exceptional species richness, with studies in the Central Highlands finding up to 70 tree species per hectare.
This course is designed for graduate students in the
Master of Science in Sustainability Science
program at Columbia University who are preparing for careers in environmental science, restoration ecology, climate adaptation, or ecosystem-based management. It is especially suitable for those interested in field-based research, biodiversity monitoring, nature-based solutions, and the integration of science with sustainability pract
- MTWRFSU 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Brendan Buckley
h-index: 40 Info - 3 points
CAPSTONE WORKSHOP IN SUSTAINABLE SCIENCE
Students study the sustainability science behind a particular sustainability problem, collect and analyze data using scientific tools, and make recommendations for solving the problem. The capstone course is a client-based workshop that will integrate each element of the curriculum into an applied project, giving students hands-on experience.
- T 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Beizhan Yan
h-index: 31 Info - 3 points