8th LIPHE4 Summer School 

Organized in collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA) of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)

Developing Toolkits for Analyzing the Nexus between Land, Water,
Food, Energy and Population across Scales

July 8-12, 2013

UAB, Bellaterra Campus, Spain

  

Purpose of the Summer School

The purpose of the Summer School is to familiarize the participants with the theory and possible applications of the MuSIASEM approach (Multi-Scale Integrated Assessment of Society and Ecosystem Metabolism). More specifically this edition of the summer school will deal with the application of the MuSIASEM approach to the analysis of the nexus between land, water, food, energy and population across scales. The courses of the Summer School will cover:

The basics of MuSIASEM: Introduction of basic theoretical concepts, such as hierarchy theory, Georgescu-Roegen’s fund-flow model, and multi-purpose grammars, which form the building blocks of the MuSIASEM approach.

The use of multi-purpose grammars: Learning how to develop quantitative descriptions, using multipurpose grammars, of the metabolic pattern of water, food, and energy in face of a given availability of primary resources, land, and population, and in relation to a desirable expression of functions in modern economies.

Application of MuSIASEM to analyze the nexus between land, water, food, energy and population across scales: Step-wise demonstration of the use of the MuSIASEM approach (incl., multi-purpose grammars, multi-level data arrays, and the “sudoku effect”) in order to arrive at an integrated characterization of the complex metabolic pattern of modern society and to generate robust scenarios.

Course Format

The five-day Summer Course follows an interactive, dynamic format. Morning lectures are alternated with afternoon working groups. The working groups allow the participants to address practical, problem-oriented, and policy-relevant research projects. Participants will be enabled to conduct studies, organized in small groups, on one of the following proposed topics: (i) comparative, integrated assessment of the metabolic pattern of different countries; (ii) analysis of scenarios of low carbon economies; (iii) integrated analysis of a specific sustainability issue proposed by the participants. At the end of the week the participants are expected to present the results of their group work. The course language is English.

Participant Profile

The course is aimed at advanced students, researchers, and experienced practitioners. Participants are expected to have a good command of written and spoken English, and to have an interest in learning about innovative approaches and ideas related to energy analysis, integrated assessment, and sustainable development. Submission of a résumé is required to determine eligibility for participation. For logistic reasons (formation of working groups), the number of participants is limited to 25 persons. Admission of eligible candidates in the program is on a first come, first serve basis.

Resource Persons

Venue

The Summer Course will take place on the Bellaterra Campus of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, in the Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM, Building C). The Bellaterra Campus is located about 20 km outside of Barcelona and can be conveniently reached from Barcelona’s city centre by Ferrocarril (FGC, line Barcelona-Vallès, destination: Universitat Autònoma). At Plaça Catalunya, take line S2 (green, toward Sabadell) or S55 (blue, toward Universitat Autònoma) and get off at the stop "Universitat Autònoma". The trip takes about 30 minutes and trains leave about every 10 minutes.

Course Fee

Course Fee: 400 € (including morning coffee breaks, lunches, course material, and a social dinner).
Late fee (after 1 June 2013): 500 euro.

The course fee shall be paid in full to Asoc Cientifica LIPHE4 by Pay-pal or bank transfer.

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.

Accommodation

A block of mini-apartments (for use by 1 or 2 persons) has been set aside for the Summer School participants at the Vila Universitaria on the Bellaterra Campus until May 1st, 2013. For reservation of these mini-apartments, please download the reservation form and follow the instructions listed in there. Larger apartments are also available at the Vila Universitaria and can be booked with the same form. Please note that accommodation is NOT included in the course fee and should be paid separately by the participant to the Vila Universitaria.

The Vila Universitaria can be conveniently reached by ferrocarril from the city centre of Barcelona. At Plaça Catalunya, take line S2 (green toward Sabadell) or S55 (blue toward Universitat Autònoma), and get off at the station Bellaterra. The trip takes about 30 minutes, and trains leave about every 10 minutes.

Travel Information

The main airport of Barcelona is Barcelona El Prat (IATA airport code: BCN). Apart from taxi, there is no direct connection between the airport and the Bellaterra Campus; you will have to go to Barcelona city’s centre (Plaça de Catalunya) first. The airport is connected with the city centre by the Aerobus service. The blue aerobuses 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. Get off at the last stop, Pl. Catalunya (in front of El Corte Inglés), from where you can take the Ferrocarril (FGC) to Bellaterra/Universitat Autonoma. You will have to cross Plaça de Catalunya to get to the Ferrocarril station (located in front of Cafe Zurich, THE meeting point all locals know!).

If you decide to travel by taxi, the trip takes about 40 minutes (depending on the traffic) and costs about 45 euro.

The Girona-Costa Brava airport (IATA code: GRO), located about 100 km north of Barcelona, also serves the larger Barcelona area. A regular bus service operates from this airport to the city centre of Barcelona. The bus will take you to Estacio d'Autobusos Barcelona Nord, Barcelona's main bus terminal. From there you can catch the metro underground system to take you to Plaça Catalunya. The nearest Metro stop to the bus station is Metro Arc De Triomf (Red Line, L1). The metro stop is only 5-10 minutes walking from the bus station. From Plaça Catalunya take the Ferrocarril to Bellaterra/Universitat Autònoma.

Other useful websites you may want to consult: TMB, Barcelona’s public transportation system, and Barcelona's tourist information.

Contact Person

For registration or more information, please contact Sandra Bukkens: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

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