"We are always only one failed generational transfer of knowledge away from darkest ignorance" (Herman Daly)

AECN/NREE 265
Resource and Environmental (and Ecological) Economics I
Spring Semester, 2009
Schedule
(Click here for the Syllabus)

Thank you for visiting this website at the  University of Nebraska in Lincoln (UNL), Nebraska, USA. This course is jointly listed through the Department of Agricultural Economics and the School of Natural Resources.

There will be changes in the Schedule as we go through the Semester, due especially to bringing in outside speakers. So, plan on checking this site at least weekly, to see where we are headed at any given point in time.

Ssee UNL Academic Calendar for other important dates.

Jan.  12-16  Preface
Overview of course
Survey about interests; take your pictures!
Readiness Assessment Test on Economic Concepts (does not affect grade)
Myers-Briggs Assessment

Jan. 19-23  Part One: The Economy and the Environment
(Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 19)
Speaker:  Jeffrey G. Hart. “Understanding the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
Class dialogue about Learning Styles and Teaching Methods, and "What you want to get out of your college education (and this course)?" Also, we explore "What would keep you enthusiastic, and interested" in the course material/class!
Changing Perspectives on the Environment (Part One, Chp. 1 in Harris)

Jan. 26- 30  Finish Part One, Start Part Two: Economic Analysis of Environmental Issues
Finish Chapter 1 on Changing Perspectives
Resources, Environment and Economic Development (Part One, Chp. 2 in Harris)
Theory of Environmental Externalities (Part Two, Chp. 3 in Harris)
Individual and Team Readiness Assurance Tests (iRAT and tRAT) over Theory of Environmental Externalities (Chp. 3 in Harris)

Feb. 2-6 Continue Part Two
Common Property Resources and Public Goods (Part Two, Chp. 4 in Harris)
CEEP Team working on Kansas-Nebraska Water Quality/Quantity Problem (Case Study/Problem Set on Applying the Coase Theorem to a real-world case)

Feb. 9-13 Continue Part Two
Resource Allocation Over Time (Part Two, Chp. 5 in Harris)
CEEP Team working on Kansas-Nebraska Water Quality/Quantity Problem (Case Study/Problem Set on Applying the Coase Theorem to a real-world case))

Feb. 16-20 Continue Part Two
Kansas-Nebraska Case/Problem Set 1 is Due
Speaker:  Mark Brohman, Director of the Nebraska Environmental Trust, to speak about investment in environmental enhancement in Nebraska (as some of you perhaps know, the Trust receives lottery funds for such investments). We wish to pay particular attention to the criteria used in deciding where to invest limited lottery monies: Are they using a benefit-cost approach?   A MAMA approach?  Neither one, or some combination?
Valuing the Environment ( Part Two, Chapter 6)

Feb. 23-27  Exam 1, and Introduction of Wind Energy Problem Set/Case
Exam 1 over Parts One and Two, the first 6-chapters in Harris
Video on wind energy: "Infinite Winds."
Introduction of Wind Energy Problem Set/Case

Mar. 2-6  Continuing Part Two: Applications in Valuing the Environment
Robert Byrnes, "Small Scale Wind Energy" (and, opportunities to work on it!), Nebraska Renewable Energy Systems.
Chp. 6 Supplement on Benefit-Cost and MAMA (Multiple Attribute, Multiple Alternative) Analysis
CEEP Team Working on Wind Energy Problem Set/Case

Mar. 9-13  Part Three:  Ecological Economics and Environmental Accounting
Speaker: Harry (Jack) Mulligan and Randy Schantell, SWT Energy, "Integrating Alternative Energy Systems into Economy and Society"
Ecological Economics: Basic Concepts (Part Three, Chp. 7 and Part 5, Chp. 13, in Harris)
CEEP Team Working on Wind Energy Problem Set/Case

Mar. 16-20 Spring Break at UNL

Mar. 23-27 Part Four:  Population, Agriculture and the Environment
We will not meet in Burnett Hall 103 for this class; rather, your attendance is required for this presentation on the East Campus in Hardin Hall Auditorium 107 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.: Dan Juhl, Chairman and CEO of Juhl Wind Inc. "Community-Based Energy Development: It's How Nebraska Builds Wind".. please sign-in with Mike Mcguire before you leave. Material from the Juhl presentation will be on Exam 2.
We will post audio augmented PowerPoints on Blackboard to finish Chp. 7 on Ecological Economics, and to cover Chps. 10 (Population and the Environment) and Chp. 11 (Agriculture, Food and Environment). RA Tests over this material will also be posted on Blackboard, for purposes of practice and study in preparation for Exam 2 on April 7.
The CEEPs may meet in the Hardin Hall Auditorium (or other spaces in Hardin Hall, e.g. in the spacious lobby) after the Juhl presentation to work on the Wind Energy Case Study

Mar. 30-Apr. 3 Part Five: Energy and Resources
Chp. 12 Nonrenewable Resources: Scarcity and Abundance and Chp. 13 Energy Transition
Wind Energy Case Study is Due: CEEP Presentations on Findings

Apr. 6-10 Exam 2, and Continue Part Five, Moving into Renewable Resources
Exam 2 over Chps. 7, 10-13
Chp. 14 and Chp. 14 Supplement over Renewable Resources
Overview of Biotic Resource Management Problem Set/Case Study

Apr. 13-17
Kevin Pope. Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research, "Managing for Biodiversity Under Conditions of Climate Change"
Chp. 16 Pollution: Analysis and Policy;  Chp. 18 Global Climate Change
CEEP work on Renewable Resource Management Case

Apr. 20-24
Dan Rice, General Manager, Prairieland Dairy, LLC, Firth, NE: Presentation on closed loop production systems (high technology, sustainable production  modeled on ecosystem and thermodynamic principles)
Chp. 17 Industrial Ecology 
CEEP work on Renewable Resource Management Case

Apr. 27-May 1 
Chp. 20 Institutions for Sustainable Development: In-class iRAT and tRAT... we will also do tRATs on Chps. 16 and 18
CEEP work on Renewable Resource Management Problem Set/Case Study (due no later than midnight on May 1).

May 4-8 Finals week
Exam 3 (final) over Parts Five, Six and Seven (Chps. 14, part of 15, 16, 17, 18 and 20.. as well as related PowerPoints and Guest Presentations, Other Materials) is on May 5, 8:15-10:15 p.m.