Education

How and why is the climate changing? How might a changing climate affect human society? And what can we do to alter the course of climate change and adapt to any climatic changes that do occur? This course provides an introduction to the natural science and social science of climate change. The focus is on what science tells us about the causes, consequences, and solutions to climate change, as well as on how scientific progress is made on these issues.

We examine a range of issues related to the collection and analysis of survey data. Topics include initiating a survey, designing an instrument, conducting enumeration, converting data from questionnaires to digital files, data analysis, empirical modeling and presenting results. Technical components are also highly focused on application and implementation and while prior training in econometrics is useful, it is not be a prerequisite. The course is tailored so that some of the specific topics covered are based on the needs and interests of the students.

Feeding a growing and wealthier population is a huge task, and one with implications for many aspects of society and the environment. There are many tough choices to be made- on fertilizers, groundwater pumping, pesticide use, organics, genetic modification, etc. Unfortunately, many people form strong opinions about these issues before understanding some of the basics of how food is grown, such as how most farmers currently manage their fields, and their reasons for doing so. The goal of this class is to present an overview of global agriculture, and the tradeoffs involved with different practices. Students will develop two key knowledge bases: basic principles of crop ecology and agronomy, and familiarity with the scale of the global food system. The last few weeks of the course will be devoted to building on this knowledge base to evaluate different future directions for agriculture.

The course provides a broad overview of key policy issues concerning agricultural development and food security, and assesses how global governance is addressing the problem of food security. At the same time the course provides an overview of the field of international security, and examines how governments and international institutions are beginning to include food in discussions of security.

Simulation models are a powerful tool for environmental research, if used properly. The major concepts and techniques for building and evaluating models. Topics include model calibration, model selection, uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, and Monte Carlo and bootstrap methods. Emphasis is on gaining hands-on experience using the R programming language.

Introduction to the interdisciplinary concepts of human dimensions of global change. Focus areas include economics, policy, culture, and history.

The economics of food production, consumption, and trade. The micro- and macro- determinants of food supply and demand, including the interrelationship among food, income, population, and public-sector decision making. Emphasis on the role of agriculture in poverty alleviation, economic development, and environmental outcomes.

Not all classes are offered every quarter or every year. This is a list of previously taught courses. Please consult Stanford's course schedule for current offerings.