Water and Climate Change

The objective of this learning unit is to present the current and future impacts on all sectors related to the field of water.

How are climate extremes—such as droughts and floods—changing, and which regions are affected by these extremes? How does this impact groundwater and surface water resources, as well as farmland and irrigation methods?

What are the trends regarding rising sea levels and coastal areas? How does this affect current and future population movements, and what solutions can be proposed for coastal management …?

Through a series of lectures delivered by experts in various fields—covering all tracks of the Master’s in Water program—this course unit will present the latest developments in this area.

Through tutorial and lab sessions, students will work in groups on a specific topic (using an example) that combines climate change with a water-related field, in order to provide a concise overview of the subject. This project will be presented in the form of a mini-seminar and will serve as the basis for the assessment of this course unit.

Climate change is a societal issue, and its impacts on all areas related to water are undeniable. However, in some fields, little is known about these impacts because the phenomenon is so recent and still evolving. Managing these impacts is certainly the challenge of the future in the water sector.

The purpose of this learning unit is to present, in a timely manner, the current state of knowledge—as analyzed and evaluated by researchers on this topic—as well as insights that may be foreseeable for the future.

Students will also delve into these issues through an independent project focused on a specific case study they will analyze, thereby reinforcing their understanding of a topic that may be related to their area of specialization. The course will focus on current solutions that have already been proposed, in order to prepare our future graduates to address this societal challenge.

Have completed the first year (M1) of the Master's in Water program.

Continuous assessment, in the form of a presentation during a seminar organized by the students.