Postgraduate Course: Professional Climate Change Skills and Methods (PGGE11306)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Responding to the climate crisis requires a range of specific interdisciplinary research and leadership skills as well as the knowledge of practical tools. This course will provide students with the applied knowledge of key climate change research methods relevant for their independent research dissertation as well as responding to the needs of the employment sector. Our graduates are employed in both the private and public sector and the course will also offer a range of climate change project management approaches and tools currently required of key sectors. These include carbon accounting, climate risk assessment, policy development and reporting. These applied skills will be updated regularly to respond to the rapidly changing policy context. The course will also provide insights into climate change leadership and project management. |
| Course description |
Addressing the climate crisis requires a range of skills and experience from evidence gathering and analysis, through to the use of practical tools for monitoring progress towards and beyond Net Zero or understanding the current climate risk profiles of key sectors. This course aims to: Equip students with the knowledge and skills to carry out fundamental research; write and communicate technical information for specific sectors; collect, analysis and present spatial climate data; capture and understanding key monitoring and evaluation tools such as Life Cycle Analysis and Carbon Footprinting. These skills are then complimented by engagement with practitioners and policy makers across relevant sectors to climate change management. Workshops and guest lecturers will be delivered by ECCI staff to expose students to current cutting edge climate management projects in addition to key representatives from relevant sectors including: energy, policy making (adaptation), tourism, cultural heritage, transport, local government, nature-based agencies (e.g. NatureScot), community focussed organisations, construction and infrastructure development. In addition and crucially the course will cover climate change leadership and behaviour change. Topics covered in the course will include: Key climate change research methods and communication; Carbon Accounting; Life Cycle Analysis; Risk Assessments; business case design and complex project management; leadership; partnership and collaboration; systems thinking modelling; GIS modelling and mapping; policy engagement and communication. This course will therefore not only support students working towards their dissertations but will also provide key skills required for the workplace. The course content will be guided by an expert advisory panel including climate change leads from both the private and public sector to ensure the course remains topical and relevant in this rapidly evolving sector.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 30,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5,
Summative Assessment Hours 115,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
46 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
There will be two forms of assessment, both coursework, both weighted equally: 1. Students will be asked to carry out a systematic literature review entitled ¿The future technologies in [sector of choice] to tackle the climate crisis¿. This will be presented in a technical report style (2500 words max) within a provided template (e.g. ClimateXchange policy report template) that will include key recommendation highlights, executive summary, background, key findings and discussion, final conclusion (weighting 50%) 2: Residential field based assignment. Students will work in groups to identify a research question related to the climate crisis in the residential field area (this may change each year). They will then co-design a research project to address the local need using a supplied template. They will then present this as a group presentation [10 to 12 mins] to the class during the 3-4 day residential field course. The PowerPoint presentation slides, the oral presentation (including Q&A) and completed template will be assessed (weighting 50%). |
| Feedback |
Formative feedback will take place during workshop sessions. During these sessions, students will be asked if they have any comments or questions about the course material. Students may also request a one-to-one feedback session with a member of the course team at any time. The course team will also provide overall class feedback after each assignment is marked, in this case in-person feedback on the residential field-based assignment as well as written feedback 2-3 weeks after submission. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- A critical understanding of a range of applied climate change evaluation, monitoring, and communication theories, concepts and principles.
- Apply a range of standard and specialised assessment instruments and techniques of enquiry including both qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Deal with complex issues and make informed judgements in situations in the absence of complete or consistent data/information.
- Communicate, using appropriate methods, to a range of audiences with different levels of knowledge/expertise.
- Manage complex ethical and professional issues and make informed judgement on climate change issues not addressed by current professional and/or ethical codes or practices.
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Reading List
Clark, Tom et al.¿Bryman¿s Social Research Methods.¿Sixth edition / Tom Clark, Liam Foster, Luke Sloan, Alan Bryman ; editorial advisor, Elena Vacchelli. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021. Print.
The Handbook of Climate Change Leadership in Organisations (2023) Routledge https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003343011
Applying geospatial information to climate challenges (2024) https://ggim.un.org/documents/Geospatial_Information_for_Climate_Resilience.pdf
Making climate policy work (2020) ISBN: 978-1-509-54180-5 |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course will develop attributes and skills expected from a University of Edinburgh graduate including: creative problem solvers and researchers, critical and reflective thinkers, effective and influential contributors and skilled communicators. Students on this course will develop their ability to examine complex theory and practice, and identify opportunities to apply climate change analysis and action thinking to practice and policy. They will have the opportunity to communicate this problem solving during the field-based project work. |
| Keywords | Climate change,skills,sustainability,research |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Katherine Crowley
Tel: (0131 6)50 2519
Email: kate.crowley@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Katherine Ingram
Tel:
Email: Katherine.Ingram@ed.ac.uk |
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