Artículos

2019 SUMMER SCHOOL

Co-organized by the H2020 project MAGIC and LIPHE4

8-12 July 2019

Institute of Environmental Science and Technology,

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain

Purpose of the Summer School

The general purpose of the Summer School is to familiarize the participants with the theory and applications of Multi-scale Integrated Analysis of Society and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM) and Quantitative Story-Telling (QST). In this 2019 edition we will illustrate the use of MuSIASEM to carry out relational analysis (nexus approach) of the metabolic pattern of social-ecological systems across different dimensions and scales of analysis in relation to complex sustainability problems dealt with in the Horizon2020 project MAGIC.

More specifically, the course will cover:

1. An overview of the challenges posed to governance by complex sustainability problems and an illustration of a novel approach capable of handling these challenges. How can scientific advice be provided in a post-truth world? What is Quantitative Story-Telling (QST) and how can we move from evidence-based policy to QST? What are the differences between a fact sheet and a concern sheet?

2. An introduction to Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM). The MuSIASEM accounting framework is an alternative to economic analyses in that it not only considers changes in the material standard of living, but also in environmental and social factors. MuSIASEM uses relational analysis to build a quantitative representation of the metabolic pattern of social-ecological systems. It addresses the following questions:

• How are metabolized flows (water, energy, food, material) used inside the technosphere? (Incl. construction of multi-level end-use matrices);
• What pressure do the metabolized flows create on the environment (in terms of requirement of primary sources and primary sinks); (Incl. construction of multi-level environmental pressure matrices);
• How can described environmental pressures be used to estimate environmental impacts?
• How open are modern social-ecological systems? To what extent do they rely on international trade to externalize (outsource) end-uses and environmental pressures and impacts to other social-ecological systems?

3. From behavior to practice – exploring the possibility of integrating Social Practice Theory in the analysis of the metabolic pattern of social-ecological systems.

The material presented draws on the results from the EU-funded Horizon 2020 project “Moving Towards Adaptive Governance in Complexity: Informing Nexus Security” (MAGIC – https://magic-nexus.eu/).

See the day-to-day program of the Summer School for more details.

Course Format

The five-day summer school consists in seminars and lectures alternated with hands-on working groups. Working groups apply the theoretical concepts to practical cases. The course is entirely taught in English.

Participant profile and pre-requisites

The course is aimed at advanced students, researchers, and practitioners. Participants are expected to have a good command of written and spoken English, and to have an interest in learning about novel approaches and ideas related to social-ecological systems, integrated assessment, and sustainable development.

Participants are encouraged to take the MOOC ‘Sustainability of Social-Ecological Systems: the Nexus between Water, Energy and Food’ prior to the start of the summer school (the MOOC is free of charge). 

The number of participants in the summer school is limited. Admission is on a first come first serve basis.

Resource Persons

Venue

The Summer School will take place at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain 

Registration and Course Fee

Registration is now closed!

Students*: Early bird fee 350€ (until 30 April 2019); regular fee 400€.
Others: Early bird fee 450€ (until 30 April 2019); regular fee 500€.
Coffee breaks, lunches and one social dinner are included in the course fee.
*Students need to provide proof of studentship (BS, MS or PhD)

The course fee shall be paid in full to Asoc Cientifica LIPHE4 by bank transfer. Registration is only confirmed when full payment has been received.

Bank details: Banco Sabadell Atlantico, IBAN: ES90 0081 0381 9800 0125 6135, SWIFT/BIC: BSABESBB.

The cost of the bank transfer should be covered by the participant.

Cancellation Policy

If a registrant is unable to attend the summer school for any reason they may substitute, by arrangement with the course coordinator, someone else from the same institute/organisation. Where the registrant is unable to attend, and is not in a position to transfer his/her place to another person, then the following refund arrangements apply:

• Registrations cancelled more than 60 days before the event will be refunded 80% of the registration fees. (The remaining 20% contributes to administration costs incurred.)
• Registrations cancelled less than 60 but more than 30 days before the event will be refunded 50% of the registration fees.
• Registrations cancelled less than 30 days before the event will not be eligible for a refund.

Refunds will be made by bank transfer to the payee nominated account and all bank charges will be for the registrant’s account.

Travel Information

Arriving by plane (Airport Barcelona El Prat; IATA code: BCN)

At the airport, take the blue aerobus to Plaça de Catalunya in the city centre. Airbuses serve both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, leaving every 5 (T1) or 10 (T2) minutes. The travel time is about 30 – 40 minutes depending on the traffic. A single ticket costs €5.90. Get off at the last stop, Pl. Catalunya (in front of El Corte Inglés). Cross Pl. Catalunya to the other side to get to the Ferrocarril station (located in front of Cafe Zürich). At the Ferrocarril station of Plaça Catalunya, take line S2 (green, toward Sabadell Parc del Nord) or S6 (red, toward Universitat Autònoma) and get off at the stop “Bellaterra”, if you go to the Vila Universitaria, or "Universitat Autònoma" if you go directly to the summer school. The ferrocarril trip takes about 35 minutes and trains leave about every 10 minutes. A single ticket (zone 1) costs €2,20. Allow for a 5 minute walk from the Bellaterra station to the Vila Universitaria; at least 10 minutes walking from the UAB FGC station to the ICTA-ICP building.

Arriving by train (Train station Sants):

At the train station (Sants Estació), take metro line L5 (blue) in direction Vall d'Hebron (single ticket €2.20). Get out at the third stop: ‘Diagonal’. Follow the directions for the underground connection with the Ferrocarril (FGC) station ‘Provença’. At Provença, purchase a single ticket (zone 1; €2,20) and take line S2 (green, toward Sabadell Parc del Nord) or S6 (red, toward Universitat Autònoma) and get off at the stop “Bellaterra”, if you go to the hotel, or "Universitat Autònoma" if you go directly to the meeting.

For more information on public transportation in Barcelona, please visit the website of Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB).

Accommodation

Student residences & hostels:

Vila Universitaria, UAB Campus, Bellaterra
Residencia Universitaria Roberto de Nobili, Carrer de Llaceres 29, Sant Cugat del Vallès
RESA student residences in Barcelona 
Hostel Inout, Carrer Major del Rectoret, 2, 08017 Barcelona

Online Platforms and Networks:

Airbnb
Hostelworld
Booking
Couchsurfing

Please note that accommodation is NOT included in the course fee.

Contact Person

For more information, please contact Sandra Bukkens: Esta dirección de correo electrónico está protegida contra spambots. Usted necesita tener Javascript activado para poder verla. .

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