Darcy Molnar: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2016

Name Dr. Darcy Molnar
Address
Institut für Umweltingenieurwiss.
ETH Zürich, HIF D 18.1
Laura-Hezner-Weg 7
8093 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 633 49 65
E-maildarcy.molnar@ifu.baug.ethz.ch
DepartmentCivil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering
RelationshipLecturer

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
701-0901-00LETH Week 2016: Challenging Water Restricted registration - show details
All ETH Bachelor`s, Master`s students and exchange students can take part in the ETH week 2016.
Tuition, food and accommodation are free of charge.
1 creditR. Knutti, C. Bratrich, S. Brusoni, P. Burlando, A. Cabello Llamas, G. Folkers, D. Molnar, A. Vaterlaus, B. Wehrli
AbstractThe ETH Week is an innovative one-week course designed to foster critical thinking and creative learning. Students from all departments as well as professors and external experts will work together in interdisciplinary teams. They will develop interventions that could play a role in solving some of our most pressing global challenges. In 2016, ETH Week will focus on the topic of water.
Objective- Domain specific knowledge: Students have immersed knowledge about a certain complex, societal topic which will be selected every year They understand the complex system context of the current topic, by comprehending its scientific, technical, political, social, ecological and economic perspectives. The focus in 2016 is on challenging water systems.

- Analytical skills The ETH Week participants are able to structure complex problems systematically using selected methods. They are able to acquire further knowledge and to critically analyze the knowledge in interdisciplinary groups and with experts and the help of team tutors.

- Design skills: The students are able to use their knowledge and skills to develop concrete approaches for problem solving and decision making to a selected problem statement, critically reflect these approaches, assess their feasibility, to transfer them into a concrete form (physical model, prototypes, strategy paper,...) and to present this work in a creative way (role-plays, videos, exhibitions, etc.).

- Self-competence: The students are able to plan their work effectively, efficiently and autonomously. By considering approaches from different disciplines they are able to make a judgment and form a personal opinion. In exchange with non-academic partners from business, politics, administration, nongovernmental organizations and media they are able to communicate appropriately, present their results professionally and creatively and convince a critical audience.

- Social competence: The students are able to work in multidisciplinary teams, i.e. they can reflect critically their own discipline, debate with students from other disciplines and experts in a critical-constructive and respectful way and can relate their own positions to different intellectual approaches. They can assess how far they are able to actively make a contribution to society by using their personal and professional talents and skills and as "Change Agents".
ContentThe week is mainly about problem solving and design thinking applied to the complex world of water. During ETH Week students will have the opportunity to work in small interdisciplinary groups, allowing them to critically analyze both their own approaches and those of other disciplines, and to integrate these into their work.

While deepening their knowledge about how the food system works, students will be introduced to various methods and tools for generating creative ideas and understand how different people are affected by each part of the system. In addition to lectures and literature, students will acquire knowledge via excursions into the real world, empirical observations, and conversations with researchers and experts

A key attribute of the ETH Week is that students are expected to find their own problem, rather than just solve the problem that has been handed to them.
Therefore, the first three days of the week will concentrate on identifying a problem the individual teams will work on, while the last two days are focused on generating solutions and communicating the team's ideas.

A panel of experts will judge your presentations at the end of the week. The winning teams will receive attractive prizes.
Prerequisites / NoticeNo prerequisites. Program is open to Bachelor and Masters from all ETH Departments. All students must apply through a competitive application process that will open in March 2016 at www.ethz.ch/ETHWeek. Participation is subject to successful selection through this competitive process.
865-0067-00LFoundations of Sustainable Development Practice Restricted registration - show details
Generally only for MAS in Development and Cooperation.

Two MACIS students will be admitted to this course. MACIS students are asked to directly contact the MAS administration NADEL for course enrollment.
1 credit1GD. Molnar, R. Batliner
AbstractThe course provides students with an introduction to concepts of sustainable development, with an emphasis on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Both conceptual and practical issues are presented, with the intention of challenging students to critically assess and debate on current issues of global development.
ObjectiveThe students are able to:
- define the main underlying concepts of the SDGs like "sustainability" and "development";
- explain the background of the Agenda 2030, its intention, the process of its development and the guiding principles for its implementation;
- discuss practical difficulties in pursuing and achieving sustainable development through development & cooperation interventions;
- describe the relevant actors and their roles and responsibilities;
- discuss the merits and the limitations of such an ambitious, multi-disciplinary, universally agreed upon framework;
- examine what the SDGs could mean for "developed nations" like Switzerland.
Content- Setting the stage: What is sustainable? What is development? Why Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
- The Agenda 2030: 17 goals and 169 targets
- Actors: Who are the actors in the SDG debate? How do these actors influence decisions? What are the roles of civil society, of the private sector, and of governments in implementing the SDGs?
- Switzerland: What does the Agenda 2030 mean for Switzerland's national and international agendas? Which SDGs does Switzerland focus on at home and abroad?
- Focus on a selection of SDGs and their related targets (not dealt with in other courses).