ENV 686a () / 2024-2025

Synthesizing Science for Policy and Practice

Credits: 3 Fall 2024: M, 9:00-10:20, Marsh classroom

Synthesizing science for policy and practice commonly requires synthesis of scientific evidence to address a targeted policy or practice question. This seminar-practicum focuses on a topical policy/practice need. This year, the focus is on developing a set of best-practice guidelines for measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) of agricultural soil carbon credits developed for voluntary markets, insetting, and nationally determined contributions. The course focuses on developing empirical best practices for project design and soil sampling, filling a gap in current methodologies around growing governmental and market demands for direct empirical (as opposed to modeled) quantification of practice effects on soil carbon removals and avoided emissions. The class meets once a week for one hour and twenty minutes and includes involvement in the running and outcomes of a two-day workshop (in mid-October or early November) where external professionals involved in soil carbon accounting will be invited to campus to discuss and develop the guidelines. The course deliverable is a draft set of best-practices. This course is targeted toward second-year students in the YSE Masters programs, and admittance to the course is capped at twelve, requiring an application for consideration.