Environmental Data

Teacher(s)

Orsini Marco;

Language

English

Content

This course explores environmental data with an emphasis on its generation, analysis, and application in shaping sustainable development policies. Students will develop the skills to identify, access, and utilize data from a wide range of sources, gaining insight into its relevance and reliability.
In addition, the course equips students to effectively communicate their findings through impactful data visualizations, enhancing comprehension and supporting informed decision-making across policy contexts.

Teaching methods

It combines traditional classroom instruction with hands-on, applied learning to foster both theoretical understanding and practical competence. Core concepts are introduced through structured lectures, encouraging active engagement and discussion. These are complemented by practical examples and case studies, to allow students to connect abstract ideas with tangible applications. Interactive sessions, group work, and problem-solving exercises will further reinforce learning by encouraging collaboration and critical thinking. This approach ensures that students not only grasp foundational knowledge but also develop the skills to apply it effectively in diverse professional contexts.

Evaluation methods

Remote written assessment. End of April, students will be given a set of case-based questions, in accordance to the course’s topics, covering sources, uses and communication of environmental data. Students will need to produce a written assessment from remote by answering the questions. The assessment will be returned by early June (the exact date will be communicated at the beginning of the course).

Online resources

On line resources: Key resources for European environmental data include the European Environment Agency (EEA) for maps and analyses, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) for climate data, and the Eurostat database for statistics on environmental economy, emissions, and protected areas. Other sources include the European Commission's environment database and specialized data systems like WISER (Freshwater Information System for Europe) and BISE (Biodiversity Information System for Europe). Students will find further references to on-line resources in the course materials.

Bibliography

A comprehensive bibliography on environmental data should encompass a wide range of sources, including academic journals, government publications, large-scale data repositories, and online databases. Students will find initial references in the course outline, with additional resources highlighted throughout the lessons.

Faculty or entity

> IEEB