Environmental systems science

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Environmental systems science is a course of study that is somewhere between systems science , mathematics and environmental informatics and is offered at a few universities, including the universities in Graz , Klagenfurt , Osnabrück and Zurich .

Basic idea of ​​the course

The basic idea of ​​the "Environmental Systems Science" course is to convey the basics and thinking of several other disciplines in addition to a well-founded subject-specific training in order to establish relationships between them. It is not only about the analysis of the individual system elements, but also about the study of the system dynamics and the networking of these elements with one another. Therefore, systems analytical and mathematical methods are an essential part of the course. The aim of this course is to enable the graduates to contribute to an interdisciplinary team on the one hand technical competence and on the other hand the ability to network different areas of knowledge.

Basic structure of the course

The central requirement for this course is the ability to work in a team and the interdisciplinary training of the graduates. Therefore the basic structure includes:

  • the subject of the chosen focus
  • the expansion to other subject areas via bound electives
  • the networking of the disciplines in interdisciplinary and problem-oriented internships
  • Basics in the field of systems science , mathematics and statistics
  • Free electives

The study of environmental systems science was introduced in Graz at the beginning of the nineties as an individual diploma course and has been available as a regular course since the 2003 winter semester. Since then there have been several revisions to the curriculum. In Graz, students can currently enroll in the natural sciences and the social and economic USW Bachelor curriculum 2017 (since winter semester 2017) as well as the 2011 master’s curriculum.

job profile

Today complex environmental problems are dealt with by discipline-oriented specialists with more or less good additional training. In addition to specialists, the future requires interdisciplinary educated scientists who are able to integrate problems from different subject areas. These tasks can only be solved by networking specialist disciplines in a team. Graduates of the study program Environmental Systems Science should be able to subject knowledge from several disciplines, including their own specialization, to a global overall assessment. Together with others, you can develop strategies for solving and avoiding environmental problems. Fields of activity are expected in all areas in which the graduates of the chosen focus (i.e. as chemists, geographers, business economists, etc.) are employed, whereby they are also able to work decisively in the following areas:

  • Research and teaching in environmental areas of science
  • Advice and support for environmental protection institutions in municipalities, districts, states and federal government
  • Management and participation in research projects and environmental impact assessments
  • Participation in the design, construction, operation, evaluation and interpretation of environmental monitoring systems
  • Participation in the planning and development of environmentally friendly products and forms of production
  • Media work and teaching at schools and further education institutions
  • Collaboration in all other areas in which specialist knowledge paired with ecological understanding is required.

In addition, the job description also includes project management tasks outside of the environmental area.

See also

Systems science area

literature

  • The Metanoia principle, Günther Ossimitz, Christian Lapp, Franzbecker Verlag 2006, Hildesheim, Berlin
  • The fifth discipline: the art and practice of the learning organization. 9th edition. Klett-Cotta Verlag, Stuttgart 2003. ISBN 3-608-91379-3 Peter Senge
  • The tree of knowledge, Humberto Maturana , Francisco Varela , Goldmann Verlag, 1987; ISBN 3-502-13440-5
  • The “holy order” of men, Gerhard Schwarz, VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften

Web links