(Cross Listed: EAS 5443, ENVS 4443, GDEV 4443/5443, and CRP 4443/5443)
This course introduces Cornell students to the work of global climate change science and policy-making, with a focus on how science informs the work of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the negotiations that take place at the annual Conference of the Parties (COP).
The course enables Cornell students to engage with the most significant global decision-making process on climate change, and builds their knowledge and professional skills related to international science and environmental policy. Students will critically analyze scientific reports, policy documents, and recent literature; engage with a variety of policy actors and mechanisms; work with experts in the field and help them with policy-relevant research; and develop skills on effective communication with stakeholders.
We will be offering two courses this fall: You can enroll in either of the two courses
1) EAS 4443/5443: 4-credit course (but I have petitioned to change to 3-credits, meeting twice a week), on Tuesdays (with EAS4441 for lecture), and Thursdays (11:25-12:40pm). The course is only open to seniors, some juniors, and some graduate students with a strong interest in climate change policy. It is also approved as a capstone course for the Environment and Sustainability (E&S) major. (If the course change is not approved, it will be 4-credits and meet additionally on Weds from 11:20-12:10pm).
This course has limited enrollment of 30, with students accepted through this application process. The course involves lectures, discussions, readings, and group projects. Teams of students will work with partner organizations from developing countries, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations to help them with a research or outreach project related to global climate change. Students that are interested in traveling to work at COP27 in Egypt must apply and be accepted to this course. *While we are planning to take some faculty and up to 12 students to the COP26 conference, we are not yet sure if it will be happening in person - or if Cornell will allow international travel.
OR
2) EAS 4441: Controversies in Global Climate Change Science and Policy: 1.5 credit course (open-enrollment), which will meet on Tuesdays from 11:25-12:45pm. This part of the course will provide interactive lectures on the current issues and controversies in the global climate change debate, and how these are being addressed at the global level. If you only want to take this 1.5 credit lecture course (EAS4441), you DO NOT HAVE TO SUBMIT THIS APPLICATION.
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FOR EAS 4443/5443 (3-credit course): APPLICATION VIA THIS SURVEY:
Please take your time to answer questions in the application carefully. Students will be chosen for the course based on the following considerations:
- Demonstrated commitment to working on climate change, through coursework, internships, employment, and participation in campus environmental groups or clubs
- Evidence of how this course will contribute to a student's career path in the environmental or climate change field
- Evidence of strong scholarship and leadership skills related to climate change
In addition, consideration will be given to:
- ENVS students that need to take a capstone course
- Equitable distribution in the class of students from different majors/fields of study (interdisciplinary perspectives and backgrounds)
- A majority of students will be senior undergrads, with some participation of well-qualified juniors and graduate students
- Equitable distribution of race, ethnicity, gender, and a variety of backgrounds
- Consideration of students who are declared climate change minors, and E&S majors that need to complete a required capstone course
Submission of applications via this survey is due May 13, 2022.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Dr. Allison Chatrchyan
amc256@cornell.edu