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Interdisciplinary and Policy Dimensions of the Earth Sciences

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INTRODUCING A NEW COLLABORATIVE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

“The earth sciences have usually stopped with doing science; what is exciting about this new departure at the University of Washington is that it seeks to train generations of earth science students to develop a policy capability. The UW thereby joins twelve other universities nation-wide in systematically pursuing the need for 'sustainability science'. ”
Ed Miles
Director

  • Apply earth sciences to issues of public policy
  • Design graduate research that contributes to solving pressing problems confronting society
  • Develop interdisciplinary thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Experience the dilemma of crafting sensible policies in the face of ambiguous and often contradictory scientific findings

Humans both affect and are affected by planetary systems. At the turn of the 21st century, for the first time in the history of the planet, through population growth, human land use patterns, energy consumption, and a wide range of environmental pollutants, human actions have impacts on a planetary scale. Some have said that humans are now one of the most if not the most powerful geomorphic force on earth. Since humans are now changing the planet on every scale, and since the human population is expected to double by 2100, we need to think systematically and creatively about human-induced planetary changes that may “… alter the capacity of the earth system to sustain life.”

The Earth Sciences play an indispensable role in a safe and prosperous society, but too often scientific wisdom does not translate to wise decision-making. This innovative new program provides graduate students in the Earth sciences a forum to explore interdisciplinary and policy dimensions of their science, and extend their graduate research to encompass those dimensions. Students earn a graduate degree in the home department, with the collaborative component recognized by the Graduate School as a Certificate in “Interdisciplinary and Policy Dimensions of the Earth Sciences”.

Participating Departments

 

Page last updated July 18, 2006

 

 

 
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