ANSC 4880 - Global Food, Energy, and Water Nexus – Engage the US, China, and India for Sustainable Future

(crosslisted) AEM 4880, CHEME 4880, FDSC 4880
(D-AG) (CU-ITL, CU-SBY, EC-SAP)

Fall. 3-4 credits, variable. Letter grades only.

Enrollment limited to: juniors, seniors, or permission of instructors. Co-meets with AEM 6880/ANSC 6880/CEE 5820/CHEME 6780/FDSC 6880.

X. Lei, T. Li, D. Miller, P. Pingali, R. Richardson, J. Tester, K.M. Zhang.

This course is offered by six Departments at Cornell, in collaboration with five Universities in China and India. Video conferencing will be used to connect classrooms in the three countries in real time. Important issues related to the food, energy, and water nexus and its implications for nutrition security, one health, environmental sustainability,climate change, and economic development in the US, China, India, and other countries will be described. Challenges associated with these issues will be evaluated and strategies to address them will be proposed. Engagement of these countries with each other and the rest of the world will be explored. The course serves as a platform for students from Cornell, China, and India to learn from and interact with each other in the same class, and to share their thinking, creativity, and perspectives on these issues.

Outcome 1: Students will be able to identify and compare the major food, nutrition and health, energy, water, and economic challenges facing the US, China, and India.

Outcome 2: Students will be able to describe barriers to food and nutrition security for all people in each of the three countries and globally and propose solutions for overcoming these barriers.

Outcome 3: Students will be able to identify and quantify the requirements of energy and water for producing, processing, transporting, and/or preparing food.

Outcome 4: Students will be able to evaluate various predictions of regional and global impacts of climate change on agricultural production and human health in the 21st century.

Outcome 5: Students will be able to collaborate as members of interdisciplinary teams composed of students from the US, China, and India to analyze and solve problems that affect food, water, and energy security.

Outcome 6: Students will be able to effectively and respectfully debate, with people of opposing views, issues related to food, water, and energy nexus.

Outcome 7: Students will be able to prepare and deliver focused, clear, impactful, and culturally sensitive presentations to an international audience of peers .