SCHI7020 · Schiller Institute

Integrating Science and Society: A Tale of Four Nobels (Graduate Level)

To borrow a line from A Tale of Two Cities, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Hardly a day goes by without headlines about climate change, environmental degradation, socioeconomic inequality and policy failure. Yet the aspirations for a just, sustainable society and the rapid development of new technologies in renewable energy and AI offer hopes and business opportunities. One thing for sure is that what we choose to do (or not to do) at this particular juncture of history is bound to have long-lasting implications for many generations to come. This interdisciplinary course, to be co-taught by the core faculty members of the Schiller Institute, will focus on the intersection of climate science, sustainable growth, green technology and policy actions. It is designed specifically to provide students with a comprehensive, yet in-depth overview of the complex interrelationships between these four key areas and how they may interact to shape the future of our planet. The course is inspired partly by four recent Nobel Prizes (hence the title), which are in physics (2021), peace (2007), chemistry (2023) and economics (2018), and help anchor the main units. The first unit starts with an overview of the scientific evidence for climate change and its causes, as well as the current state of energy production, consumption and technology. In the second unit, students will then learn about the challenges and opportunities associated with transitioning to a more sustainable economy, nature-based solution to climate change. The third unit is devoted to state-of-art technology toward renewable energy. The fourth unit, composed mainly of a series of guest lectures, provides a review of the existing policy frameworks at local, national, and international levels, as well as the role of key actors such as governments, NGOs, industries and communities of faith.