CLIMATE SCI FOR DEC MAK: MOD, ANL & AP

CLIMATE SCIENCE FOR DEC MAKERS

Both human and natural systems are growing more vulnerable to climate variability (e.g., the anomalous weather induced by the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, or the increase in hurricanes that occurs when ocean currents warm the Atlantic) and to human-induced climate change, which manifests itself primarily through increases in temperature, precipitation intensity, and sea level, but which can potentially affect all aspects of the global climate. This course will prepare you to estimate climate hazards in your field thereby accelerating the design and implementation of climate-smart, sustainable practices. Climate models are the primary tool for predicting global and regional climate variations, for assessing climate-related risks, and for guiding adaption to climate variability and change. Thus, a basic understanding of the strengths and limitations of such tools is necessary to decision makers and professionals in technical fields.

This course will provide a foundation in the dynamics of the physical climate system that underpin climate models and a full survey of what aspects of the climate system are well observed and understood and where quantitative uncertainties remain. Students will gain a fundamental understanding of the modeling design choices and approximations that distinguish Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)-class climate models from weather forecasting models and that create a diversity of state-of-the-art climate models and climate projections.

This course will provide an overview of the ways in which climate model output and observations can be merged into statistical models to support applications such as seasonal and decadal projections of climate extremes, global and regional climate impacts, and decision-making. Students will develop the skills to visualize, analyze, validate, and interpret climate model output, calculate impact-relevant indices such as duration of heat waves, severity of droughts, or probability of inundation, and the strategies to characterize strengths and uncertainties in projections of future climate change using ensembles of climate models and different emission scenarios.

• T 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Instructor: Michael Previdi
  Info
• 3 points

GEO INFO SYSTEMS (GIS) FOR SUST SCIENCE

GEO INFO SYS 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

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

Plastic Pollution and Sustainable Soluti

This course aims to equip students with the knowledge and tools necessary to understand and address plastic pollution from a multidisciplinary perspective, encouraging innovative and sustainable solutions. The course offers a comprehensive global perspective on the current state of plastic pollution, its primary causes, and the sustainable solutions being explored worldwide. The curriculum is divided into four main areas: 1)
Formation and Environmental Behavior
- We will explore how plastic pollution is generated and how it behaves in various environmental settings; 2)
Ecological and Health Impacts
- Students will learn about the effects of plastic pollution on ecosystems and human health, including the toxicity and potential targets of microplastics and nanoplastics; 3)
Sustainable Solutions
- The focus will be on the life cycle of plastics, emphasizing sustainable practices and technologies aimed at reducing plastic waste and pollution; 4)
Policy and Regulation
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We will analyze existing policies and regulations, assessing their effectiveness and limitations in combating plastic pollution. We will also review the status of the International Plastic Treaty spearheaded by the United Nations Environment Program, discussing its strengths and limitations. Additionally, students will gain foundational knowledge in methodologies for measuring plastic pollution, laboratory procedures, and the evaluation of the toxicological impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics on various organisms.

• R 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Instructor: Beizhan Yan
  h-index: 31 Info
• 3 points

REMOTE SENSING FOR AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS

Aquatic systems are critical for provisioning ecosystem services that have sustained human civilization as evidenced by the establishment of the earliest civilizations on banks of rivers or along a coast.  Apart from regulating climate, aquatic systems provide food and transportation services, fresh water lakes and reservoirs provide water for consumption and irrigation, and coastal systems offer recreational services.  But growing human population, especially along the coast, has endangered the quality of ecosystem services.  The primary finding of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment was that 15 out 24 ecosystem services examined are being degraded or being used unsustainably (MEA 2005).  Monitoring the aquatic ecosystem and understanding how to distinguish between anthropogenic and natural variability is an essential aspect of sustainability science. This course will provide an introduction to the use of remote sensing techniques that can be used to study the aquatic environment. There are several space-based sensors that provide information relevant to sustainable management of aquatic resources.  Depending on the sensor, observations are made as frequently as every day and spatially covering the entire globe.  Understanding the spatial and temporal context around an issue can help discriminate between local and far field effects and time series of remote sensing data can be constructed to investigate causes and consequences of environmental events.  Thus knowledge of the basic science of remote sensing, understanding how to select the appropriate sensor to answer a question, where to find the data and how to analyze this data could be critical tools for anyone interested in oceanic, coastal, and freshwater resource management. The course will follow active learning techniques and will consist of a lecture to introduce concepts followed by a discussion and lab time for hands on activities to learn and use tools for analysis of remote sensing data.  After the introduction of the basic principles of remote sensing, a series of case studies will be used to explore concepts in sustainability such as water quality, nutrient loading and hypoxia, coral reefs.  Remote sensing tools that are used to investigate and address environmental questions such as the effects of shutting down a sewage treatment plant, mapping of suspended sediment concentrations will be demonstrated and used by the students.  Each case study will be briefly introduced at the end of the pre

• M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Ajit Subramaniam
  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.
• 3 points

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

INDEPENDENT STUDY

• Instructor: Maria L Gray
  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.
• 3 points