Environmental governance, Environmental science, Science and Technology Studies, Transition studies
2018 The Precautionary Principle in Sustainability Transitions: Thinking forwards, Looking backwards, Acting

This is a joint school with the European Environment Agency (EEA) – an EEAcademy event. It is co-organised with  Erda RTE and Bridging for Sustainability. In cooperation with Erasmus+ CBHE action INTENSE.

 

       

Course date

28 June - 4 July, 2018
Application for this course is closed.

Experiences of past course participants

2018 course participants said:

"The course familiarized me with a topic I knew very little about prior to taking it. I gained insights of how to look at some of my professional issues through the prism of precautionary principle. I especially appreciated the lecture on legal aspects of precautionary principle, as it will give me a solid standing to justify the significance of my research to my peers and funding agencies."

"Relevant lecturers and topics, international academic competence, good organization, muti-cultual experience."

2017 course participants said:

[I have received] "good conceptual introduction to the precautionary principle, coupled with real-world examples of its applications and challenges to policy-making."

"The course was very useful in bringing like-minded people together in trying to use foresight in solving environmental problems."

"I will use a lot of the ideas and theory discussed in relation to the underpinning philosophy relating to decision making and risk. I'm really looking forward to applying this to my current academic work."

2016 course participants said:

"The course will be useful for my research activities and professional development in the sense that research and development activities of the institute shall apply the precautionary principle in developing technology and innovation. Likewise in professional development, the course has empowered me to be precautious in handling research projects and technology development in the areas of chemicals and energy."

"Interactive, lots of information, interesting people, different opinions and working areas-it was very useful and made the course comprehensive."

"I obtained new knowledge in the field of health and environment; history and legislation of precautionary principle. I have experience about discussions of group-work when members are of different specialities and countries."

"For me, systemic thinking about precaution was the most important message and how it should be applied in "everyday" settings, industries, etc."

2015 course participants said:

"The precautionary principle is central to my ongoing Ph.D work on Genetically Modified Foods (GMO) in
Nigeria. The course really helped to understand practically what I have spent years to read about
precautionary principle. I was able to gain more insights on the wider application of the precautionary principle in
moderating innovations and not stifling innovations. With the knowledge gained from the course, I can
confidently continue with my research work unhindered from the vantage position of knowledge."
 
"I consider that the involvement of participants from different sectors and countries was extremely useful, as we 
managed to share different perspectives on the course matter and obtain comprehensive understanding of the problem and its solution in different regions and sectors of ecomony."
 
"The course gave a strong foothold on the literature on the precautionary principle and linked me with experts whom i could ask questions in the future. Furthermore, the course gave me confidence about my understanding of the precautionary principle."
 
"The course and the literature deals with core issues in my daily work with chemical policy and the core conflicts that I experience each day. Hence it is extremely helpful and inspiring. My understanding of a view on some of these issues have become clearer and also helps me manage some of the frustration I experience on a daily basis as I see that the problems tend to be structural/large scale/systemic rather than due to my inabilities/shortcomings or the actions of individual counterparts, which I think will help me to get a better perspective on these issues. Further, it was very interesting and valuable to listen to and meet people behind groundbreaking and pioneering scientific work and writing in my field, to be able to make important and inspiring contacts with people with whom I will hopefully be able to establish a continued cooperation and finally to get an improved overview of relevant science and literature."