Courses
11.601 Fall 2009
Introduction to Environmental Policy and Regulation
This is the required introductory course for all graduate students pursuing an environmental policy and planning specialization in the MCP Program. It is also open all DUSP/TPP students interested in environmental policy-making, the techniques of environmental planning and “the environmental policy debate.”
The course consists of four parts: Environmental Policy-making and Regulation; Environmental Policy Debates, The Techniques of Environmental Planning, and Environmental Decision-making In Practice. The first part of the course explores a wide-range of federal environmental regulatory initiatives in the United States. The second revolves around debate-style presentations in which student teams test contrary arguments drawing on the relevant philosophical literature. The third provides an overview of cost-benefit analysis, environmental impact assessment, and environmental modeling techniques. The fourth part of the course introduces students to consensus building and dispute resolution techniques as they are used in the practice of environmental planning.
Instructor: Larry Susskind
11.375 Spring 2010
Preparing for the Impacts of Climate Change—Synthesizing Science and Governance
This seminar is for students interested in exploring creative ways of responding to the risks associated with climate change. Introductory sessions will review the theory and practice of adaptive management. Student teams will work on Everglades Restoration—Addressing the Challenge of Climate Change Through a Stakeholder-Oriented Process of Strategic Habitat Conservation. Teams will address theory-building questions like "How is landscape representation used to translate scientific knowledge into policy?" " How does the use of 'boundary objects' link science and policy?" "Can technology facilitate the translation of emerging science into sustainable management strategies?" The seminar will test the premise that there needs to be a fundamental realignment in the way science is produced and used in public policy-making and governance. The seminar will try to determine whether this premise is true and, if so, what form should this realignment take.
Instructor: Herman Karl
11.951 Fall 2009
Ecological Planning and Design with GIS
This will be a 1/2 semester lecture/lab format module, meeting 3 hours per week (1 hour lecture, 2 hours lab). For the second 1/2 semester, there will be an optional class project module, meeting for the 2 hours lab once a week.
Instructor: Michael Flaxman