1.74  Land, Water, Food, and Climate

1.74 Class 12

We will not have any assigned readings for Class 12 on Monday May 15 but please come prepared to summarize your research paper results to the class (about 10 minutes). Projected slides with relevant figures are fine but not required. We will also have a wrapup discussion re. what we have learned and what issues remain unresolved.

1.74 Class 11

In this class, we continue our discussion of new approaches and technologies. The papers are listed on Stellar under Class 11. Here is a proposed list of responsibilities for discussion leaders:

1.74 Class 10 Discussions:
In the last two classes we turn to new approaches and technologies. We will discuss bioenergy (left over from last time) and then genetically engineered/modified crops. The papers are listed on Stellar under Class 10. Here is a proposed list of responsibilities for discussion leaders:

Searchinger, Biofuels: Gabe
Ronald, GMO survey: Alex
Wolfenbarger&Phifer: GMO impacts: Jon
Paarlberg: GMO Policy: Josh

If I don't hear otherwise from you I will assume these assignments are OK.

1.74 Class 9 Discussions  

In the next class we continue our discussion of agriculture and climate change. The papers are listed on Stellar under Class 9.
Here is a proposed list of responsibilities for discussion leaders:

IPCC, Climate Technical Summary: Daniel (Continued from Class 8)
Herzog: Sector contributions to greenhouse gases: Janet
Lobell: Effects of climate on agriculture: Alex
IPCC, AR5, Chap 7, Agriculture: Neha
Searchinger, Biofuels: Josh (only Summary assigned,  pp. 1-5, I recommend the rest if you are interested in the topic)

The IPCC chapters are long but you should at least look at all the figures and boxes. I will supplemnnt these in class with some relevant figures from the main text.

Also, you should have started on the class paper by now. Please email me by Monday April 24 an outline (<1 pp) indicating in a sentence or two the anticipated contents of each section. 

Please let me know if you cannot lead the discussion for the assigned papers (otherwise, I assume that you can).

1.74 Class 8 Discussions  

In the next class we consider ecological aspects of agriculture, including pest control, and start on our discussion of climate and agriculture. The papers are listed on Stellar under Class 8.
Here is a proposed list of responsibilities for discussion leaders:

Yudelman, Persticides: Jon
Frison, Diversity: Gabe
Ewell, Tropics: Janet
IPCC, Climate Technical Summary: Daniel

The IPCC technical summary chapter is long but you should at least look at all the figures and boxes, including the definitions of "Representative Concentration Pathways" in Box TS.6. For reading, you can focus on Sections TS.2 (observations) and TS.3 (Drivers) but you should also find useful TS.4 (Understanding the Climate System) and TS.5 (Projections). This IPCC reading is an overview of climate change. We will focus more on agricultural aspects in the next class.

Also, please let me know if you cannot lead the discussion for the assigned papers (otherwise, I assume that you can).