Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a Master's program in Climate Change, which includes a course on Geoengineering. Geoengineering is the deliberate large-scale intervention in the Earth's natural systems to counteract climate change.

Course Description

The course introduces various proposals within the two major categories: Solar Radiation Management (SRM) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR). These proposals aim to cool the planet either by reflecting more solar energy back to space or removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to directly counter global warming and ocean acidification.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge: Understanding of geoengineering, its principles, and mechanisms, including SRM and CDR processes.
• Skills: Ability to demonstrate understanding of the governing parameters in Earth's climate system, assess the advantages and disadvantages of various climate mitigation proposals, and evaluate the cost-benefit of proposed technologies.
• Competences: Ability to explain the concepts of geoengineering, familiarity with existing climate mitigation proposals, and appreciation of limitations to various SRM and CDR technologies.

Literature and Qualifications

• Students will read primary scientific literature and reports.
• Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree are recommended.
• Basic calculation skills equivalent to Danish High school level B are recommended.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course includes weekly lectures and exercises.

Workload

• Lectures: 36 hours
• Preparation: 89 hours
• Exercises: 54 hours
• Project work: 26 hours
• Exam: 1 hour
• Total: 206 hours

Assessment

• Oral examination (30 minutes)
• Written assignment (essay, approximately 5 pages)
• Final grade is given by a combination of the oral and written exam, where the oral exam counts 67% and the essay counts 33%.

Course Information

• Language: English
• Course code: SGBK20005U
• Credit: 7.5 ECTS
• Level: Full Degree Master
• Duration: 1 block
• Placement: Block 4
• Schedule: A
• Course capacity: 80
• Study board: Study Board of Geosciences and Management
• Contracting department: GLOBE Institute
• Contracting faculty: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
• Course Coordinators: Tais Wittchen Dahl
• Lecturers: Minik Rosing and guest lecturers

Exam Registration Requirements

Approved essay.

Aid and Marking Scale

• All aids allowed
• 7-point grading scale
• No external censorship
• One internal examiner

Re-exam

Identical to the ordinary exam. If an essay has been submitted originally, it also counts during the re-exam. If an essay has not been submitted, a new essay topic is given approximately 4 weeks prior to the oral exam. It must be handed in no later than two weeks before the re-exam.