PROGRESS Summer School
Natural hazards, Climate Change and Geo-governance
The Potsdam Research Cluster for Georisk Analysis, Environmental Change and Sustainability (PROGRESS) is a joint initiative of university and external organizations in the region of Potsdam-Berlin, which provides a new momentum in the international Geohazards-, Climate impact- and Governance research.
Main tasks of the PROGRESS activity include the design of new research strategies to provide a better understanding of geo-processes across various temporal and spatial scales. By combining remote sensing techniques, the retrieval of hydro-meteorological and seismicity records, and data analysis of geologic archives, PROGRESS assesses the probability of catastrophic events as well as the potential risk for societies. Herein, the goal is to bridge the temporal gap between observations of present-day processes and past geologic events, applying integrative simulation models as well as developing new analytical methods and technologies.
Beside methodological improvements, PROGRESS tries to improve the hazard assessments worldwide through innovative visualization and communication strategies. PROGRESS aims to design novel approaches to develop custom-tailored early-warning systems and decision-support tools, which help to prepare for hazardous events. The consortium strives to support decision-making based on a profound understanding of the different components of the natural system in order to better assess its tipping points.
The PROGRESS summer school will provide insights into some of the most challenging aspects of Natural hazard assessments, Climate-change research and aspects of Geo-governance. The offered courses address young researchers with a natural science background, as well as fellows from the social and political sciences.
The following courses are offered in parallel session from Monday to Wednesday:
(1) Neotectonics, Paleoseismicity and GIS - Evaluating seismic activity on diverse time scales
Instructors: Prof. Manfred Strecker, Dr. Taylor Schildgen, Dr. Brian Clarke (U Potsdam), and staff
Level: Profound knowledge in Earth sciences and practical experience in structural geology is required – top level BSc, MSc students, PhDs, young researchers
General course description:
This course provides an introduction to techniques of evaluating the degree of tectonic activity in different geodynamic settings. Examples of the tectonic geomorphology, spatial and temporal distribution of earthquakes, and effects of tectonic activity over a variety of timescales will be presented. This also includes the interactions between tectonics, topography, and climate and the problem of assessing tectonic activity through the analysis of fluvial networks. Regional examples include high-slip environments that will be contrasted with slow active faults from continental interiors. In addition, techniques of assessing recent crustal movements and past activity along faults with different or changing kinematic styles will be presented. The course comprises 2.5 days of lectures and exercises by instructors. The lectures are accompanied by interpretation of aerial photography and other imagery and topographic data, and hands-on-materials from well-studied trenching sites.
Detailed Programme:
To view the detailed program of the PROGRESS Summer School in PDF format, please click on the image (or right-click/save link as).
(2) Climate change – Understanding transition, adaptation, societal relevance and governance
Instructors: Prof. Jürgen Kropp (PIK Potsdam), Prof. Gabriele Christmann (IRS Erkner), Thurid Hustedt (U Potsdam), and staff
Level: Basic knowledge and/or interest in Social and/or Political sciences, basic knowledge in Climate/ Physical/ Earth sciences – top level BSc, MSc students, PhDs, young researchers
General course description:
The course will shade light on the multidisciplinary field of global and climate change research and geo-governnace. It is organized by half-daily blocks each of them focusing on different aspects of climate impact research, political sciences and societal vulnerability research. The program ranges from more theoretical concepts to concrete strategies for vulnerability assessments. Moreover the course explicitly will focus on the interface of natural, social and political sciences.
It is the learning target that the participants understand the basics of climate impact research, the main ideas behind the applied concepts and how this scientific field is in particular embedded in policy and decision making.
The course consists of the following half-day slots:
1. Slot (presented by IRS):
Climate Change - Socially Constructed? Conceptions of vulnerability, risks and sustainability in social sciences
Heterogeneous Perceptions of Climate Risks and Consequences for Governance Processes
2. Slot (presented by PIK)
Climate Impacts and Impact Functions: towards a comparable and transferable climate risk assessment
Tackling the climate change challenge: Reconciling fair and equitable emission reductions targets and development goals
3. Slot (presented by PIK)
Geoengineering challenges: cities as hot spots for climate change
Sustainable resource utilization, is it feasible?
4. Slot (presented by Uni Potsdam)
Climate change as a policy and governance problem
Scientifc advice in policy-making: The case of climate policy
Detailed Programme:
To view the detailed program of the PROGRESS Summer School in PDF format, please click on the image (or right-click/save link as).
(3) Hydro-meteorological extreme events – From process understanding towards risk assessment and early warning
Instructors: Prof. Axel Bronstert (U Potsdam), Dr. Maik Heistermann (U Potsdam), Prof. Annegret Thieken, Dr. Heiko Apel, Dr. Sergiy Vorogoshyn, Jan Blöthe, Henry Munack, and staff
Level: Profound knowledge in Earth and/or Physical sciences and practical experience in hydrologic modeling – top level BSc, MSc students, PhDs, young researchers
The course will provide an interdisciplinary introduction into the field of hydro-meteorological extreme events with a particular focus on floods. In five blocks, the course will include aspects from both the hazard and the vulnerability perspective, and will provide an understanding of both proesses and methods for events on different scales. The course consists the following half-day blocks in a total period of 2.5 days: (1) Large river floods and flood hydraulics, (2) Extreme rainfall and flash floods, (3) Hydro-meterological extremes under climate change, (4) Extreme mass transport events and landslides, (5) Vulnerability to floods.
Detailed Programme:
To view the detailed program of the PROGRESS Summer School in PDF format, please click on the image (or right-click/save link as).
Note:
The outlined program is still preliminary. We appreciate your interest and thank you for registering for the PROGRESS Summer School.
If you would like to contact us directly, please, refer to:
Dr. Andreas Bergner (PROGRESS coordinator)
Email: earthscience@uni-potsdam.de
Telefon: 0331-977 5842
