Postgraduate Courses on Building Resilience to Climate Change

I'm excited to see more formal education being offered on the social science aspects of climate change. If you are interested in studying how people are impacted by and responding to climate change or the perception thereof, look for these keywords: resilience, adaptation and vulnerabilities. That will clue you in that the topic will take a social approach. Case in point:


Autumn 2010
Postgraduate Courses on
Building Resilience to Climate Change

13 September - 1 October 2010
Tokyo, Japan

www.isp.unu.edu/cecar

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DEADLINE
15 July 2010 for overseas applicants
31 July 2010 for applicants currently residing in Japan and who are enrolled in a university.

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The United Nations University Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNU-ISP), Tokyo, invites applications for the new intensive 3-week postgraduate programme on
"Building Resilience to Climate Change"
developed under the framework of the University Network for Climate and Ecosystems Change Adaptation Research (UN-CECAR).

The new courses, conducted at UNU-ISP, cover a range of issues on sustainability and adaptation to climate and ecosystems change. Topics include climate and atmospheric science, impacts assessment, climate and society, ecosystems resilience, risk and uncertainty, integrated solutions for mitigation and adaptation, mainstreaming adaptation into development planning and community-based adaptation. Students also will receive practical training in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and in downscaling rainfall forecasts.

Students who successfully complete the course will be awarded a certificate with transcripts from UNU-ISP. Each course is designed to be worth 2 credits and comprises of 30 hours of teaching time.

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FELLOWSHIPS

A limited number of fellowships (covering tuition fees and living expenses) are available for outstanding students from developing countries and who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance. All students are expected to pay for their own travel expenses.

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ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION
The programme is open to Master's and Ph.D students who are currently enrolled in a university postgraduate programme and who have already identified their thesis topic prior to arriving in Japan.

Applicants must provide:
1) a completed Application & Fellowship Form with photo and signature;

2) proof that they are currently enrolled in a Master’s or Ph.D. degree programme;

3) a detailed proposal of their research topic, and explain how it will link their current university thesis topic to that of climate change;

4) TOEFL scores or equivalent proof of English-language proficiency; and

5) two references; one from the student’s supervisor and one from another faculty member.

For detailed information on the application and admission procedures, and to download the application form, please visit the UNU-ISP website at:
http://isp.unu.edu/cecar.