Námskeiðslýsing

The module aims at setting the context for studying about environment and natural resources in Iceland.

As a developed, resource rich, remote and sparsely populated island in the N-Atlantic Ocean, Iceland has distinct aspects, and therefore, the country is not easily comparable to other countries. Such aspects are e.g. the country's geology, geography and demography. In this course, students will become familiar with basic and specific resource management issues and they will discuss and provide possible solutions using selected tools. The aim is to create an understanding of natural resource management in general and the Icelandic context in particular. Selected natural resources will be introduced, such as living marine resources (mainly commercial fish stocks); energy resources; arable land, soils and vegetation; geological and biological resources; scenic landscapes; and land ownership and use. Selected environmental issues will be explained, such as ownership of resources; access to resources; utilization vs. conservation; nature as a source of nationalism; and public environmental awareness in Iceland.

Hæfniviðmið

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Understand, discuss, and think critically about a number of selected resource management issues presented in class.
• Identify, outline, analyse and communicate a selected natural resource management problem presented in class, and provide potential solutions using a resource management tool from the course's toolbox.

Námsmat

50% Group assignment (groups of 2-3) Due Friday, September 9, at 10pm. Presentation of findings from group work in front of classs. Application of a selected natural resource management tool from the course's toolbox on a selected topic from class discussions.
40% Individual Assignment. Due, Sunday, September 11. Analysis and discussion paper of the applied resource management tool (group results can be utilized), one page excluding graphs and figures (Times New Roman, 12).
10% Attendance and participation in class discussions.

Kennari

Dagný Arnarsdóttir holds a master's degree from the Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) program at the University of Iceland (UI). In her master's thesis, Dagný studied the Corporate Social Responsibility discourse in Iceland and based her methodology on similar reseaches on climate change discourses in neighbouring countries. Paralell with her masters studies 2006-2009, Dagný worked as a freelance assistant for Iceland's Specialist Committee for the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, did an internship for the Environmental Agency of Iceland where she proposed a national sustainability indicator set, worked project based for the Icelandic Association of Environmental Scientists (FUMÍ), taught ethics at Reykjavík's Adult Education Center and, for two years, was the coordinator for the ENR masters program at UI. Dagný is now the program director of the CMM masters program in Ísafjörður, Iceland.

Georg Haney - currently works for the Westfjords Natural History Institute (Náttúrustofa Vestfjarða) as a project manager and research specialist. All current projects are linked to the marine environment. He holds a MSc in Environment and Natural Resources from the University of Iceland and also has a background in mining engineering. He has also worked with the Wilderness Society Inc., Australias biggest grass roots NGO in Tasmania.

Gestafyrirlesari

Gunnar Páll Eydal, gunnar(hja)teiknistofan.is
Gísli H. Halldórsson, gislih(hja)simnet.is

Ítarefni