Last course of the semester completed
Last Friday our students completed their last course of the semester where they learned a lot of things about Environmental Economics.
The course introduces students to the basic principles of sensible utilization and preservation of environmental goods from the neoclassical perspective of environmental economics. It explores the main ways in which the market fails when it comes to the environment, discussing the pros and cons of different economic instruments for correcting these distortions. The course focuses on the topic of cost-benefit analysis, both from the small-scale perspective of projects and large-scale issues such as the tackling of climate change. Students are introduced to the different techniques that environmental economists apply when they endeavour to value the environment and changes in its quality.
The course instructor is Dr. David Cook who is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Iceland. His research focuses on the interconnections between economies, human well-being and sustainability, with a particular focus on the valuation and management of ecosystem services in the Arctic. He is also employed by the University of Iceland as a lecturer in Environmental Economics. In 2018, he completed his PhD in Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Iceland. His project focused on the development of an economic model for evaluating the environmental costs of utilising geothermal energy.
After class on Friday we had what we call „jólaslútt“ – a celebration of the end of the semester and all the students have achieved. Some of them are also going home for the holidays so it‘s a chance to say farewell for now. Our Academic Director, Astrid, prepared some lovely hot chocolate, christmas cookies and clementines for everyone to enjoy.
We look forward to the coming semester and for everyone to return in january, well rested and motivated.