3 ECTS credits
90 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4015778DNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (D) Master - preliminary level.
Within the wide field covered by the course title, specifically attention is paid to frameworks that facilitate or impede the translation of science to policy and governance. Target systems and areas for this course are the aquatic systems in developing countries but are expanded to other ecosystem types in developing countries depending on student audience. The course is given in the perspective of a scientist and addresses an audience of scientists and their expertise-based role.
The course covers two different aspects : (1) a conceptual / theoretical part (context) and (2) a practical part.
For the conceptual part, an overview (formal teaching) is given of the concept ‘development’ in a historical context and its relation to structures, policies and views today. Specific problems that may also be dealt with are: scientific uncertainty vs. governance and policy, commons and the public/private debate in environmental management, the scientist’s responsibility and the value of science or scientific data.
For the practical part surveys are made of relevant (inter)national bodies, agreements, treaties and other tools, donor agencies. This is done through interviews performed by defined student groups comprising at least two nationalities, with actors and stakeholders (policy makers, politicians, lawyers, the corporate sector, NGO, scientists in the development context,…). These interviews are preferably done on location. Attention will be paid to the post war European integration and its mechanisms. At every step and during every activity, the scientist’s role will remain in focus.
The work forms comprise: lectures, seminars by or interviews with societal sectors or actors. For the external seminars a wide coverage of political levels and geographical regions is offered (NGO, regional government, national government, EU,…). Since many students already have a professional background, this expertise can be introduced in debate and dialogue.
For Level I a case study (from another country than the student’s) is further elaborated by every student. For Level II a project proposal is written on a topic with direct relevance to development. This topic has a link to the Master thesis subject, either by content or by approach. It may however not be a PhD proposal. Much attention is paid to intellectual property rights and originality (and the pitfall of plagiarism). For level II, the country of the student must be central to the assignment.
Previous knowledge
Knowledge obtained from programmes or fields in biology, bio-engineering, geography and geology are adequate.
Study Material
No specific textbook is used. Besides recent material from the literature and media, the following books can be useful:
Pielke R A 2007 The honest broker – making sense of science in policy and politics – Cambridge University Press ISBN 9780521694810;
Rist G 2008 The history of development. From Western origin to global faith.
ZED Books, London ISBN 978 1 84813 189 7;
Acemoglu D & Robinson J A 2012 Why nations fail. The origins of power, prosperity and poverty. Profile Books ISBN 9780307719225;
Sachs W (ed.) 2010 The development dictionary.
ZED Books, London ISBN 978 1 84813 380 6.
This course explicitly contributes to the following competences of the curriculum
(as defined by the Biology Department of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel):
General
- Evaluate the societal relevance (I)
- Evaluate the scientific relevance (II)
- Report in various ways (III)
Field specific
- Problem solving as a thinking process (IV)
- Extrapolation between different scientific fields (VI)
- Recognize and work out bio-ethical implications (VII)
The course objectives are not targeted to a scientific discipline, but intend to set the framework of successful translation of scientific data and scientific theory to governance and policy, with an emphasis on aquatic systems in developing countries, but not limited to these.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 34% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 33% of the final mark.
SELF Practical Assignment determines 33% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the SELF Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Apart from the assignments given to the students, they must prepare for an oral examination with written preparation. For Level I a case study (from another country than the student’s) is further elaborated by every student, instruction given during the course. For Level II a project proposal is written on a topic with direct relevance to development. This topic has a link to the Master thesis subject, without however being a PhD proposal. The evaluation is a combined peer assessment and lecturers’ evaluation (for level II).
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management: Standaard traject