Institute for Global Environmental Issues
INSTITUTE for GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
INTRODUCTION
The Institute for Global Environmental Issues (IGEI) is a
non-profit international educational organization whose mission
is to provide a broad program of education and practical training
in environmental issues to decisionmakers and managers in
government, industry, and civil society throughout the world.
IGEI is unique in its combination of
- broad international scope
- multi-disciplinary approach
- emphasis on open and independent scientific exchange.
IGEI's Unique Approach
Global Perspective
Many environmental issues -- e.g., acid deposition, river and
aquifer pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change --
are inherently of global scope. Other environmental problems
-- waste disposal, urban air quality, preservation of
biodiversity -- are local or regional in scope, but must be faced
by planners and managers throughout the world. IGEI thus seeks
to transfer environmental knowledge and skills from a global
perspective, building an understanding of inherently global
issues together with practical capabilities to deal with local
and regional problems.
To foster this global perspective, IGEI's program will be
a "university without walls". IGEI's programs will be conducted
in different institutions in different parts of the world every
year. Locations will be selected to focus most effectively on
critical and timely environmental issues.
Intensive and Innovative Academic and Practical Instructional
Methods IGEI's program is centered on annual multi-week
intensive summer programs with a student body of about 100,
carefully selected to provide a diverse and balanced range
of expertise, experiences, responsibilities, and interests.
Through innovative teaching methods, rigorous academic
instruction will be combined with practical application.
IGEI's unique curriculum will provide a hands-on approach in
a compressed time frame to enable participants to acquire
both knowledge and analytical tools and practical problem
solving experience on real world problems.
High-Quality Faculty
Each IGEI summer session will be coordinated and led by a
Scientific Director recognized as a world leader in the central
theme area. The Scientific Director will be backed up by
a multidisciplinary team of highly qualified resident faculty
members who will guide the program during its entire duration.
In addition, distinguished guest speakers and resource experts
will contribute to the program on a rotating basis. Care will
be taken to ensure that there is ample time and opportunity for
close interaction between students and these experts.
Case Study Curriculum
Each IGEI summer session will be organized to provide
intensive learning in a highly effective structured framework.
Each year's summer session will be focused on a central theme.
The instructional program will then be structured in terms of a
small number of thought-provoking case studies in which the
students will conduct searching interdisciplinary explorations
of specific problems relating to the central theme. Instruction
on fundamental science and technology essential for addressing
these problems will be provided in a tailored fashion to meet
student needs.
The theme for IGEI '99 will be "Kyoto and Beyond" -- the
challenges of implementing the agreements on greenhouse gas
emission reductions made at the recent Kyoto conference, and
of adapting to the climatic changes that are predicted to lie
ahead. Case studies may deal with local and regional
energy, industrial development, and transportation issues;
adaptation of agricultural systems to changing energy
and transportation costs in the context of rapid climate change;
and similar challenges.
Possible themes for future sessions include: Management of
Coastal Zones, Restoration Ecology, Potentials and Pitfalls
of Eco-Tourism, etc.
Elements of the Curriculum
In parallel with the case-study approach, the curriculum will
be designed to provide the students with a comprehensive and
balanced knowledge base to enhance their ability to deal
with environmental issues. The curriculum will cover
three inter-related elements: The Basic Topics, Specialized
Topics and Group Project Curriculum.
Basic Topics
The Basic Topics Curriculum teaches students about environmental
issues outside their original field of experience. Participants
broaden their outlook on environmental issues by reviewing case
studies in depth, exploring the problem in context, and
evaluating attempted solutions, and drawing conclusions from
successes and failures. Lectures, readings, and seminars are
keyed to the case studies that form the backbone of the program
Core topics include Earth Systems; Data Collection, Analysis
and Distribution; Life Science/Human Body;
Economics/Law/Policy; Ethics/Culture/Religion; and Human
Activities.
Specialized Topics
The Specialized Topics Curriculum will permit students to deepen
their knowledge in certain fields. Each case study will allow
the students to gain knowledge in their field of interest
or expertise. Students will be given the opportunity to interact
with world renown Faculty and Visiting Lecturers to analyze
very specific aspects of a problem and its solutions.
Planned topics include: Biodiversity; Consumption Patterns
and Environment; Resource Management; Technology Issues; Poverty
and Environment; Urban Environment and Indoor Environmental
Issues.
Group Project
The Group Project curriculum relates each case study to the
Group Project. This portion of the curriculum, combined as much
as possible with the case studies, gives the students the basic
tools needed by the Group Project.
The Group Project involves students in developing a project
report equivalent to a Collective Thesis. During this phase,
students study an actual problem affecting the local or
regional environment. Students are now developing their own
case study! Solutions are proposed by the students and evaluated
by the students. This joint project gives students the
opportunity to work with people on all aspects of the problem:
local interest groups, industry, government, grass-roots
organizations, and academics in an international and
multidisciplinary environment. Apart from helping to produce a
report with considerable practical value, the group learning
process will allow students to depend on their own understanding
of the pervasive environmental issues of our time: including
pollution, energy, waste management, and global warming. IGEI
prepares students to take on leading roles in local, regional,
and international environmental management. This phase of
the curriculum plays a major role in facilitating and
encouraging the exchange of information and promotion of
collaborative activities among the members of its community
through the IGEINET beyond the time frame of the summer session.
Promoting Information Exchange and Continuing Collaboration
IGEI's goal is to educate tomorrow's leaders and equip them to
meet the complex environmental challenges of the 21st century.
To this end, IGEI seeks to build a continuing and
ever-growing worldwide network of researchers, policymakers,
managers, and concerned citizens. IGEI's intensive summer
sessions will promote exchange and interaction among
faculty, researchers, students, and alumni of IGEI, as well
as collaboration with industry, government, and
environmental organizations that participate in the programs.
IGEI expects that these linkages will continue and expand as
alumni begin to apply the skills and knowledge acquired to their
own practical problems.
A Demonstrated Commitment to Excellence
IGEI's program and curriculum have been developed by its Board
of Directors and Advisors. The exceptionally distinguished and
expert members of these planning groups have been attracted by
the ever-increasing needs of policymakers and managers
for comprehensive and balanced environmental education, and the
unique potential of IGEI for meeting these needs. The
still-growing roster of IGEI's planners includes prominent
scientists, scholars, and political leaders from North and
South America, Europe, and Asia, from both developed and
developing nations, currently representing eight countries.
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IGEI offers an exciting opportunity for environmental education
with a hands-on approach. Join the 100 student participants
from the worlds of academia, business, research, and government
for a "once in lifetime" intensive learning experience.
PRO-IGEI PROGRAMS
IGEI also conducts professional courses and seminars throughout
the year to interested groups and individuals. In this capacity,
we will facilitate contact between top experts in environmental
fields and the organizations that require their services.
The uniqueness of the services provided by IGEI resides in
its exceptional pool of international specialists recruited from
a wide range of fields. IGEI's unique Academic College offers
programs on demand to corporations, organizations, and other
groups and individuals. Using its exceptional network
and organization, IGEINET also provides professional
consulting services to industries and groups.
Companies or organizations interested in IGEI professional
courses, seminars and services should contact IGEI directly.
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Institute for Global Environmental Issues
P.O. Box 770339
Naples, FL. 34107-0339
USA
Phone +1-941-596-1200 E-mail: btraub@igei.org
Fax +1-941-594-8222 Web: www.igei.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Link: Institute for Global Environmental Issues |
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Jacques Cousteau (CNN)