Groundwater and Global Change – Impacts and Adaptation (GroundwatCh) - Erasmus Mundus
Explain in detail how groundwater systems function;
Describe the interactions between groundwater systems, climate, surface waters and land use;
Use modelling tools for climate and groundwater systems;
Identify the consequences of global and climate change impacts for groundwater management under uncertainty;
Plan groundwater-related adaptation solutions for global change.
Specific learning objectives of the course
The academic programme of GroundwatCH is built on the cornerstones of hydrogeology, climatology, impacts and adaptation, within a framework of human pressures, global and climate change and interdependencies (feedbacks), surrounding the following academic focal areas:
Hydrogeology;
Groundwater data collection, interpretation and modelling;
Climate processes and modelling;
Groundwater-surface water-climate interactions;
Integrated river basin and water resources management;
Groundwater and environmental impacts;
Groundwater, society and policies;
Groundwater in adaptation to global change.
Regarding the key competences and skills that the JMD programme aims to provide, they are linked to each of the thematic areas, several of which provide the basic skills required to address the other, more integrated fields, and ultimately the core thematic field, where the key distinctive and challenging skills and competences can be outlined.
One possibility is to follow an academic career, as the demand for scientists that are able to perform research and teach on climate change impacts on freshwater resources in general and groundwater resources in particular, including existing feedback mechanisms, is rapidly increasing. Some graduates may become PhD fellows and/or researchers/lecturers at universities, international research institutes or environmental organisations. Research linked to the implementation of global change adaptation solutions enhancing freshwater availability will be particularly appealing.
In addition, GroundwatCh graduates are likely to be employed by regional or country-based water authorities and related governmental agencies, environment and water institutes, geological surveys, as well as water supply companies and international (non-governmental) organisations (e.g. UNEP, WMO, WRI, IIED, WWF). This is supported by the fact that governments and public and private water actors are becoming increasingly aware of the fact that:
groundwater is a critical resource in the adaptation to global and climate change and freshwater availability needs to be guaranteed in the future;
the exploitation and management of this resource, and the implementation of solutions, need to involve well-trained experts in the field.
Private consultancy companies working in groundwater exploration, resources management or climate adaptation, will also be seeking professionals with a strong educational background, with advanced skills and competencies in the field, making GroundwatCh graduates highly suitable for the job.
1º semestre – Instituto Superior Técnico;
2º semestre – IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (Países Baixos);
3º semestre – Techniche Universität Dresden (Alemanha);
4º semestre – Estudantes escolhem uma das 3 instituições.