Understanding the Grand Challenges of Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling Webinar

Abstract

Join SESYNC, The Integrated Assessment Society, and the journal Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling Understanding for a live webcast this spring, exploring the Grand Challenges in Socio-Environmental Systems (SES) Modeling.

Expanding the development and use of socio-environmental system (SES) models is critical to solving urgent problems situated at the human-nature interface. Substantial progress is being made, but modeling challenges associated with a range of diverse issues remain. For example, these include how to best represent the human dimension in SES models, account for temporal and spatial scale mismatches, and cope with deep uncertainty.   

Based on the 2020 article “Eight grand challenges in socio-environmental systems modeling,” this recorded webcast explores the present status and future of SES modeling, while highlighting current challenges and paths forward. It is intended for practitioners and scholars who commission, sponsor, or use SES models. It will begin with a pre-recorded presentation by its lead author, Sondoss El Sawah, briefly describing the major challenges. Comments from each panelist will follow and then an open discussion.

Flyer available here:

Document
PROGRAM  
Welcome and Introduction: Jan Bakkes, Vice President, The Integrated Assessment Society and PBL-Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
Pre-Recorded Presentation: "Understanding the Grand Challenges in Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling" (20 mins.) Sondoss El Sawah, Associate Professor, Engineering Management, University of New South Wales, Canberra 
Q&A: Presenter responds to questions from the participants (10 mins.)  
Panel Session: (Responses 10 mins. per panelist)  John B. Robinson, Professor, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto, CA
Jill Jäger, Independent scholar, Vienna, Austria
Detlef van Vuuren, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency; Professor of Integrated Assessment of Global Environmental Change, Utrecht University

Questions to the Panelists: (10 mins.)

 

Open Discussion: (20 mins.) 

 

Presenters

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A headshot of Jan Bakkes

Jan Bakkes

Dr. Jan Bakkes specializes in assessing and processing environmental information for decision-making. He is vice president of The Integrated Assessment Society and past senior project leader for PBL, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. Since 2010, he has been assisting the China Council for International Collaboration on Environment and Development as a member of high-level Task Forces and Policy Studies. He has worked with the OECD and the World Bank and was associated with UNEP (Nairobi) for a long period. He has helped these organizations kick-start broad-based assessments and...

Image
A headshot of Jan Bakkes

Jan Bakkes

Dr. Jan Bakkes specializes in assessing and processing environmental information for decision-making. He is vice president of The Integrated Assessment Society and past senior project leader for PBL, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. Since 2010, he has been assisting the China Council for International Collaboration on Environment and Development as a member of high-level Task Forces and Policy Studies. He has worked with the OECD and the World Bank and was associated with UNEP (Nairobi) for a long period. He has helped these organizations kick-start broad-based assessments and future outlooks, such as the OECD Environmental Outlook. He fulfilled key roles in a range of science-policy interface projects for the European Commission and other EU organizations, such as Cost of Policy Inaction; Beyond GDP; and EU Resource Efficiency in a Global Context.

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A headshot of John B. Robinson

John B. Robinson

Dr. John Robinson is a Professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, and the School of the Environment, at the University of Toronto; Honorary Professor with the Institute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability at The University of British Columbia; Adjunct Professor with the Copenhagen Business School. At the University of Toronto, he is also Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Climate Change & Sustainability. His work focuses on the intersection of climate change mitigation, adaptation, and sustainability; the use of visualization, modelling, and citizen...

Image
A headshot of John B. Robinson

John B. Robinson

Dr. John Robinson is a Professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, and the School of the Environment, at the University of Toronto; Honorary Professor with the Institute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability at The University of British Columbia; Adjunct Professor with the Copenhagen Business School. At the University of Toronto, he is also Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Climate Change & Sustainability. His work focuses on the intersection of climate change mitigation, adaptation, and sustainability; the use of visualization, modelling, and citizen engagement to explore sustainable futures, buildings, and urban design; creating partnerships for sustainability with non-academic partners; and the intersection of sustainability, social and technological change, behavior change, and community engagement processes. 

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A headshot of Jill Jaeger

Jill Jäger

Dr. Jill Jäger is an independent scholar based in Vienna. Her past accomplishments and positions include: Project Leader at the Stockholm Environment Institute; Director of the Climate Policy Division of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy; Deputy Director of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis; and Executive Director of the  Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change. In addition to contributing numerous scientific publications in books and scientific journals, she has participated in a range of research projects focusing on...

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A headshot of Jill Jaeger

Jill Jäger

Dr. Jill Jäger is an independent scholar based in Vienna. Her past accomplishments and positions include: Project Leader at the Stockholm Environment Institute; Director of the Climate Policy Division of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy; Deputy Director of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis; and Executive Director of the  Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change. In addition to contributing numerous scientific publications in books and scientific journals, she has participated in a range of research projects focusing on integrated sustainability assessment, climate vulnerability, and sustainability science. 

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A headshot of Detlef van Vuuren

Detlef van Vuuren

Dr. Detlef van Vuuren is a Professor in Integrated Assessment of Global Environmental Change at Utrecht University and senior researcher at PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. His work focuses on response strategies to global environmental problems using integrated assessment models and other tools. As such, he participates as part of the IMAGE integrated assessment modelling team. He has published more than 360 articles in refereed journals including high profile journals like Nature and Science. He is among the few people worldwide that are listed as most highly cited...

Image
A headshot of Detlef van Vuuren

Detlef van Vuuren

Dr. Detlef van Vuuren is a Professor in Integrated Assessment of Global Environmental Change at Utrecht University and senior researcher at PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. His work focuses on response strategies to global environmental problems using integrated assessment models and other tools. As such, he participates as part of the IMAGE integrated assessment modelling team. He has published more than 360 articles in refereed journals including high profile journals like Nature and Science. He is among the few people worldwide that are listed as most highly cited researchers in three different disciplines.

Presenters
Jan Bakkes, PBL, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
John B. Robinson, University of Toronto
Jill Jäger
Detlef van Vuuren, Utrecht University; PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
Date
Time
Weds. 14 April 2021, 15:00-16:30 (EDT UTC -4)
Weds. 14 April 2021, 21:00 – 22:30 (CEST UTC +2)
Thur. 15 April 2021, 05:00 - 06:30 (AEST UTC +10)
Recording
This webinar has been recorded.
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