Joint Massey and University of Vermont USA course on Ecosystem Services

A joint Massey and University of Vermont USA course on Ecosystem Services is being prepared for January 2011 and envisions participation of 15 UVM students and 15 Massey graduate students. This course will be co-taught with Prof Robert Costanza, a world renowned expert in Ecological Economics and Ecosystem Services. The scope of the “atelier” course/paper, which is currently in preparation, is very applied and aims to have much interaction with actual local stakeholders in the Manawatu region. The course will address the concept of Ecosystem Services through theory and site visits. Based on the ecological economics tools that will be taught, students will be asked to design feasible solutions. Interaction with stakeholders will be encouraged. Students are expected to collaborate on the writing of a publishable paper. Examples of “atelier” courses/papers can be found here.

Current Massey University courses that relate to the area of ecological economics can be found by clicking here.

Massey University has a proud research tradition which dates from its very beginnings as an agricultural college. Mementos from Massey’s early years live on in such things as the Drysdale and Perendale sheep breeds, named after Massey staff Dr Francis Dry and Sir Geoffrey Peren respectively.

Today Massey remains a power to be reckoned in both the biotechnology and land-based sciences, but over the past 80 years Massey has evolved to become much more. It is now a large, modern university with a robust multi-campus, multi-modal structure. It embraces a remarkable range of expertise, and with a track record of problem solving it is uniquely equipped to contribute to New Zealand’s economic, cultural and social development.

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