ABOUT
One of our most popular and successful programmes, The Oxford School of Climate Change, will return for its 7th edition in Hilary 2021! Over the course of eight weeks, the School will bring together a diverse group of participants and provide them with a comprehensive education in the core issues underlying climate change, as well as the most promising solutions that have emerged across the world to address it. Participants will get the unique opportunity to learn from some of Oxford University’s most distinguished climate experts, engage in lively group discussions, and become part of our community of tomorrow’s climate leaders.
Applications are now closed. The next School will be in Michaelmas (October 2021), and applications will open in September.
If you applied for Hilary 2021 and you haven't heard from us, please send an email to schoolofclimatechange[at]gmail.com. We received a number of bouncebacks due to mis-typed emails and we want to make sure you get our response!
Applications are now closed. The next School will be in Michaelmas (October 2021), and applications will open in September.
If you applied for Hilary 2021 and you haven't heard from us, please send an email to schoolofclimatechange[at]gmail.com. We received a number of bouncebacks due to mis-typed emails and we want to make sure you get our response!
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DATES: The School will consist of nine weekly seminars of two hours each. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the School will be online again for Hilary 2021. We had almost 500 eager participants this past term and we look forward to having more of you join us and learn!
The school will run on Zoom Webinar every Tuesday from the week of January 18th to March 15th from 5:30-7:30pm. FORMAT: Each seminar will consist of a lecture given by a leading academic in the field, followed by questions from participants. We will then move into breakout groups to discuss key issues and get to know other participants. New to this year's iteration of the School is the introduction of a capstone exercise, which involves working in small groups of 5-6 people to more closely investigate an issue presented in the School. The programme is specifically designed to deliver the interdisciplinary knowledge required for successful climate action, while remaining accessible to individuals from all backgrounds. It will begin with a broad overview of the science and impacts of climate change, before diving into a deeper examination of the areas that are most crucial for coherent climate action, such as energy, transport, and law. The programme will conclude by reviewing local and global frameworks for climate mitigation and adaptation, with a view towards practical actions that can be taken by the participants in their daily lives and future careers. A typical session will include: 45-50 minute lecture 25-30 minutes questions from participants 30 minutes breakout room FEE: In order to cover the costs of the webinar platform we are using to host this year's School, we are charging a fee of £10 for each participant. However, if you are unable to pay this fee, we have a no questions-asked financial hardship box that you can tick in the online application form. Community building is a significant component of the School's programme. Participants will be given the opportunity to meet other climate-conscious individuals, and to work together to apply the knowledge they have learned to future projects beyond the School. |
MENTORS
Mentors support participants undertaking the capstone project in the School of Climate Change. The capstone project will involve participants drawing from the content they’re learning in order to outline the contours of the problem and then guide people through it and potential solutions. An example of this capstone project might be looking deeper into the theme of green energy. A specific problem would be delivering green energy systems to rural areas of a country of your choice. Participants will need to think through what the system looks like, who the actors are, what the obstacles are, and what the potential solutions might be. Groups will submit a one-pager to the SoCC team, and a small number of these teams will receive guidance from mentors to compete in the capstone presentation competition.
We are no longer looking for mentors.
Mentors support participants undertaking the capstone project in the School of Climate Change. The capstone project will involve participants drawing from the content they’re learning in order to outline the contours of the problem and then guide people through it and potential solutions. An example of this capstone project might be looking deeper into the theme of green energy. A specific problem would be delivering green energy systems to rural areas of a country of your choice. Participants will need to think through what the system looks like, who the actors are, what the obstacles are, and what the potential solutions might be. Groups will submit a one-pager to the SoCC team, and a small number of these teams will receive guidance from mentors to compete in the capstone presentation competition.
We are no longer looking for mentors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day of the week is the School of Climate Change? Tuesday.
What time is the School of Climate Change? 5:30-7:30pm UK time. All sessions will be recorded and shared with participants. We will also have an additional weekend discussion group for anyone who cannot make the Tuesday night sessions.
Do I need to be affiliated with the University of Oxford to apply? No, anyone from anywhere in the world can apply! However, applications are now closed for Hilary 2021.
What does the capstone project involve? You will be placed in a group of 5-6 people and you will collaboratively pick an environmental problem and map the problems and solutions. The main objective is to take what you've learned, built upon that knowledge and direct it towards a specific issue you find especially interesting.
What is the weekly time commitment for this programme? Two hours per week. If you do the capstone project (you can opt-in to this on the application form), your total weekly commitment will be approximately 3 hours per week.
Will I receive a certificate for this programme? We can offer a certificate from the Oxford Climate Society but it is important to note that we are in no way affiliated with degree programmes at the University of Oxford. We are a student-run initiative.
Is there a typical profile for a SoCC applicant? No! We welcome people from all backgrounds, ages, and expertises. Climate change affects us all, so knowing about it is vital no matter what you do or study!
What do I do if I got accepted in Michaelmas 2020, but had to drop out due to other commitments? We will need you to submit another application, but please just check the box saying you were previously accepted.
When will I hear if I got into SoCC? On a rolling basis from December 15th. Thank you for your application!
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR HILARY 2021.
The School will run again in Michaelmas (October 2021).
If you would like more information about the School of Climate Change, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us! However, we are no longer accepting applications.
PROGRAMME DETAILS (from Hilary and Michaelmas 2020)
WEEK 1 - THE SCIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Prof Philip Stier
Professor for Atmospheric Physics and Head of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics at the Department of Physics
‘Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal.’ - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
What is climate change, what are its physical mechanisms, and what is the evidence? In week 1 of our series, participants will receive a direct and accessible grounding in the science behind the headlines; it is only by understanding the science that leaders take effective action against climate breakdown.
Professor for Atmospheric Physics and Head of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics at the Department of Physics
‘Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal.’ - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
What is climate change, what are its physical mechanisms, and what is the evidence? In week 1 of our series, participants will receive a direct and accessible grounding in the science behind the headlines; it is only by understanding the science that leaders take effective action against climate breakdown.
WEEK 2 - CLIMATE ACTIVISM FROM ABOVE AND BELOW
Kaya Axelsson
Net Zero Policy Engagement Fellow, Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment
Mapping a history of activism on the climate: when did people start acting on the climate, and how has the composition of activists changed over time? What form does the climate movement take today, and what are we missing in the long-term as we move forward to organise in a post-COVID world?
Net Zero Policy Engagement Fellow, Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment
Mapping a history of activism on the climate: when did people start acting on the climate, and how has the composition of activists changed over time? What form does the climate movement take today, and what are we missing in the long-term as we move forward to organise in a post-COVID world?
WEEK 3 - Climate change and business
Dr. Laurence Wainwright
Course Director, MSc Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment
What is the role of business in causing and solving climate change? What should the role of the corporation be in the current environmental climate? How can you tell the difference between legitimate business interventions and greenwashing?
Course Director, MSc Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment
What is the role of business in causing and solving climate change? What should the role of the corporation be in the current environmental climate? How can you tell the difference between legitimate business interventions and greenwashing?
WEEK 4 - environmental economics
Prof Cameron Hepburn
Director and Professor of Environmental Economics at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment and Director of Economics of Sustainability at the Institute for New Economic Thinking, Oxford Martin School
‘Socio-technological transitions often involve disruptive adjustments, even when they are ultimately beneficial to human welfare. [...] Societies thus face the challenging task of achieving a rapid structural shift to a low-carbon economy, while concurrently avoiding excessive economic losses and safeguarding the stability of the financial system’ - Nature Climate Change volume 8, pages 462–468 (2018)
What is carbon pricing, how realistic is sustainable growth, and what are the ethical implications of pricing natural capital? In week 3 of our seminar series participants will learn about the economy and environment as a holistic system, and how economic tools could be used to fight climate change.
Director and Professor of Environmental Economics at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment and Director of Economics of Sustainability at the Institute for New Economic Thinking, Oxford Martin School
‘Socio-technological transitions often involve disruptive adjustments, even when they are ultimately beneficial to human welfare. [...] Societies thus face the challenging task of achieving a rapid structural shift to a low-carbon economy, while concurrently avoiding excessive economic losses and safeguarding the stability of the financial system’ - Nature Climate Change volume 8, pages 462–468 (2018)
What is carbon pricing, how realistic is sustainable growth, and what are the ethical implications of pricing natural capital? In week 3 of our seminar series participants will learn about the economy and environment as a holistic system, and how economic tools could be used to fight climate change.
week 5 - climate policy and law
Prof Tom Hale
Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government
‘Given the pressures facing us, from climate change to forced migration, from land degradation to food and water scarcity, it is clear that our fate as individuals and as a civilisation is based upon our ability to find common solutions. None of these challenges is beyond our collective ingenuity to solve.’ - Richard Kinley, Curator of Profiles of Paris
Who should act on climate change, what tools are available to to fight climate breakdown, how was the Paris agreement possible, and how effective will it be? In week 5 of our seminar series we will be covering the realities of what geopolitical climate action can and can’t achieve, and how social constraints influence potential pathways as much physical ones.
Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government
‘Given the pressures facing us, from climate change to forced migration, from land degradation to food and water scarcity, it is clear that our fate as individuals and as a civilisation is based upon our ability to find common solutions. None of these challenges is beyond our collective ingenuity to solve.’ - Richard Kinley, Curator of Profiles of Paris
Who should act on climate change, what tools are available to to fight climate breakdown, how was the Paris agreement possible, and how effective will it be? In week 5 of our seminar series we will be covering the realities of what geopolitical climate action can and can’t achieve, and how social constraints influence potential pathways as much physical ones.
week 6 - energy, climate and cities
Dr Radhika Khosla
Research Director of the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development and Senior Researcher at the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment
‘70% of cities are already dealing with the effects of climate change, and nearly all are at risk. [...] There is no single solution for solving global climate change, but cities have the ability, capacity and will to lead.’ - C40 Cities
How vulnerable are cities to the impacts of climate breakdown, how is climate change a social inequality issue? In week 7 of our seminar series participants will learn about the interface between climate change and cities; how cities are contributing to climate breakdown, the physical and financial risk posed by climate change, as well as how they might develop to create a safe and clean future for everyone.
Research Director of the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development and Senior Researcher at the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment
‘70% of cities are already dealing with the effects of climate change, and nearly all are at risk. [...] There is no single solution for solving global climate change, but cities have the ability, capacity and will to lead.’ - C40 Cities
How vulnerable are cities to the impacts of climate breakdown, how is climate change a social inequality issue? In week 7 of our seminar series participants will learn about the interface between climate change and cities; how cities are contributing to climate breakdown, the physical and financial risk posed by climate change, as well as how they might develop to create a safe and clean future for everyone.
week 7 - achieving net zero
Prof Myles Allen
Professor of Geosystem Science and Leader, Climate Research Programme, Environmental Change Institute
‘Effective mitigation will not be achieved if individual agents advance their own interests independently. Climate change has the characteristics of a collective action problem at the global scale [and] international cooperation is therefore required to effectively mitigate GHG emissions and address other climate change issues.’ - IPCC AR5 Summary for Policy Makers
What is the global ‘carbon budget’, how might technical innovations might be used to reach net zero emissions, what are the political and ethical considerations? In week 8 of our seminar series participants will learn about the present, “baked-in”, and future warming states of the climate, and how we realistically might achieve net zero emissions in a manner that limits warming to ‘well below 2C’ as called for in the Paris Agreement.
Professor of Geosystem Science and Leader, Climate Research Programme, Environmental Change Institute
‘Effective mitigation will not be achieved if individual agents advance their own interests independently. Climate change has the characteristics of a collective action problem at the global scale [and] international cooperation is therefore required to effectively mitigate GHG emissions and address other climate change issues.’ - IPCC AR5 Summary for Policy Makers
What is the global ‘carbon budget’, how might technical innovations might be used to reach net zero emissions, what are the political and ethical considerations? In week 8 of our seminar series participants will learn about the present, “baked-in”, and future warming states of the climate, and how we realistically might achieve net zero emissions in a manner that limits warming to ‘well below 2C’ as called for in the Paris Agreement.
week 8 - capstone presentations
In this week, we will be watching capstone presentations from fellow participants as they demonstrate what they've learned over the last seven weeks.
TESTIMONIALS
“It is impossible for me to see the world the same as I did before participating in the School of Climate Change. For the first time ever I had the opportunity to be part of a group of inspiring and passionate individuals who understand the urgency of doing something, anything, to save our Planet. I will take with me so much knowledge, courage and the strongest of commitments to do my best to change the world from my field of expertise. I'm grateful for these eight amazing Thursdays that changed my life. I would do it again a hundred times!”
“I was astounded at how good the School of Climate Change was. I signed up casually thinking that I might learn something new, but more likely it would be information I can find on Youtube. I left with a level of knowledge of climate change far higher than when I applied. The course was structured well with approaches towards the subject from a multiplicity of angles. The topics were thorough. The Q&A's were always engaging and I wanted to get involved. Finally, the capstone projects were utterly inspiring - I met people from all over the world from a range of age groups and background who all cared passionately about tackling climate change. All in all a wonderful experience.”
“Delighted is an understatement. The course was well designed, formatted, delivered at an excellent pace, flow and by highly competent and engaging facilitators in an interactive process. The breakout rooms and the opportunities to engage with other participants provided even more profound insights into the cultures, perspectives and views towards applying the learning in different context. The course was extremely relevant, timely, and provided great insights and collaborative opportunities to address systemic issues associated to climate change.”
Being around such a diverse and interdisciplinary group of students who all care about climate change has been such a refreshing experience at Oxford, not least because of the great array of topics included in the programme. The SoCC covers some of the most defining and contentious debates around solutions to environmental issues, from geoengineering and carbon taxes, to flood prevention and decarbonising the economy.
I loved that the programme offers such a welcoming and open space for discussion and debate, and that it is open to everyone from undergraduates to PhDs. It's given me the opportunity to build on my knowledge of issues around climate change, to be challenged by my peers, to interact with some fantastic speakers, and perhaps most importantly, to build so many new friendships, no doubt with many of the future leaders on climate change.
- MSc Global Governance and Diplomacy
I really loved the course. I really felt like it brought together a community of students and academic professionals to talk about and learn about climate change and think how to approach it taking into account the interdisciplinary approach it demands.
- DPhil Philosophy
It was an amazing series. I only wish I could do it all again!
