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| Semester | spring semester 2020 |
| Course frequency | Every spring sem. |
| Lecturers | Paul Burger (paul.burger@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Transforming today’s energy systems in industrialized countries includes a substantial reduction of the total energy consumption at the individual level. Selected instruments have been found to be effective in changing people’s behavior in single domains, however, households seems to be quite inert in their energy consumption. The so far weak success story on reducing overall energy consumption indicates that our understanding of the determining factors of individual energy consumption as well as of its change is far from being conclusive. Thereby, households or individuals are not treated as energy consumers properly speaking but as consumer of energy services. This widens the horizon to also include people's („socially constructed“) wants. We will introduce different disciplinary approaches in the field of changing individual energy behavior to clarify the diverging perceptions of the opportunities to change the behavior. Regarding economics, energy is often seen as a commodity and consumers will adapt usage in response to price signals. In psychological conceptions, energy use can be affected by stimulus-response mechanisms or by promoting environmental values. Sociology is often not looking at individuals but at practices displaying social meanings in relation to „materials". Having revealed strengths and weaknesses of these approaches we will focus on an interdisciplinary frame integrating different perspectives on the change of individual energy behavior. Finally, we will further investigate and discuss the prospects and limitations of different governance/intervention strategies on multiple levels that are directed at changing individual energy behavior. |
| Learning objectives | The class will - learn on disciplinary approaches on changing individual energy behavior from economics, psychology, social sciences; - reveal the benefits and the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach to understand changes in individual energy behavior; - identify different governance strategies and levels of intervention to changing individual energy behavior. |
| Bibliography | tba in class |
| Comments | Please note entry requirements and mandatory course application procedure (additional to registration on MOnA). MSD 2017 For students with focus area in social sciences the seminar is optional for the "Core Competences in Social Scienes" module. Students who have chosen the focus area in natural sciences or in economics must have completed the 'Complementary Knowledge in Social Sciences' module (at least 8 CP). Transfer of credit points to the "Focal Areas in Sustainability Research" module (learning agreement) is possible for all students. MSD 2010 Allgemein empfehlen wir den Studierenden im MSD 2010, LV aus dem Wahlbereich erst zu belegen, wenn die KP aus den Grundlagen- und Aufbaubereichen weitestgehend erworben sind. Dieses Seminar kann für den Vertiefungsbereich Phil.-Hist. angerechnet werden (learning contract). This seminar is offered by MSD. Prof. Dr. Paul Burger is a member of the teaching committee MSD and head of the Sustainability Research Group, Dep. of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. |
| Admission requirements | Special course application required for ALL (for details see 'course application' or 'Anmeldung'). Limited number of participants (25), Students of the MSD (incl. preparation semester), IJDSD and those of the listed programs (see list of modules) have priority. If you study something different you must do a master's degree within the 'Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences' and may attend the seminar in case of vacancies. MSD 2017 MSD students who have chosen the focus area in natural sciences or in economics must have completed (or at least 8 CP) the “Complementary Knowledge in Social Sciences” module. MSD 2010 Dieses Seminar ist im Wahlbereich Energie und Kllimawandel/Bereich Phil.-Hist. publiziert. Studierende, welche die Grundlagen- und Aufbaubereiche Phil.-Hist. zu absolvieren haben, müssen diese bis und mit HS17 weitestgehend abgeschlossen haben. |
| Course application | Mandatory application for ALL: Link for application open from 15.01.20/noon - 05.02.20/midnight: https://adam.unibas.ch/goto_adam_fold_744950.html (Login on top row right hand side of ADAM website. The link is open as soon as the application form is online). NOTE: Be aware of special entry requirements. Course inscription via MOnA remains mandatory. In case of vacancies the mandatory online application link remains open incl. the second week of teaching + 2 days. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online course |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|
No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Modul Wahlbereich Energie und Klimawandel (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development (Start of studies before 01.08.2017)) Module: Core Competences in Social Sciences (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development) Module: Resources and Sustainability (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources) Vertiefungsmodul Global Europe: Umwelt und Nachhaltigkeit (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Regular attendance, required reading, oral presentation, essay. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | University of Basel |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Nachhaltigkeitsforschung |