SoSe 2026 Critical Computational Modeling of Earth-Nature-Society Dynamics -

Time and Place

Thu, April 16, 2026, 2 - 4 pm, Neue Mensa - K III (Campus Bockenheim)

Thu, April 23, 2026, 2 - 4 pm, Casino - Cas 1.802 (Campus Westend)

Thu, April 30, 2026, 2 - 4 pm, Casino - Cas 1.802 (Campus Westend)

Fri, May 22, 2026, 9 - 6 pm, Casino - Cas 1.812 (Campus Westend) 

Fri, May, 29, 2026, 9 - 6 pm, Neue Mensa - K III (Campus Bockenheim)

Presentation / Exam Dates:

tba

Content

Addressing complex global sustainability challenges requires an interdisciplinary approach that takes into account how natural, ecological, climatic, and societal systems interact. This interdisciplinary course critically explores how scientific models—such as those used for climate projections, biodiversity assessments, or the quantification of economic damages—are constructed, which assumptions they rely on, and how they shape political decisions and the public discourse at large. We will use the Amazon rainforest as a case study, which is a critical system from a climate, biodiversity, and economic development perspective. Using this and further case studies, we will dive into the methods, limitations but also how computational models are used for the design of policies. As such, the course aims to foster an interdisciplinary understanding of computational methods, practice a critical perspective on alternative modeling approaches, but also taking into account how research is embedded in societal contexts, and to uncover opportunities for  interdisciplinary collaboration towards more just and sustainable futures.

After the three introductory lectures on direct climate change impacts as well as their biodiversity and the economic impacts, students (in a group of 2-3) will choose a small interdisciplinary project centered on a scientific publication that connects two of the core dimensions—climate and biodiversity, climate and economy, or biodiversity and economy. Together with the lecturers, they will present their selected study in a presentation in the block phase of the course, and critically reflect on its modeling approach, underlying assumptions, and interdisciplinary implications.

Recommended Background Reading and Watching:

Five exemplary publications are:

1. Dietz, S., Rising, J., Stoerk, T. and Wagner, G., 2021. Economic impacts of tipping points in the climate system. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(34), p.e2103081118.
   

   https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2103081118

2. Boot, A.A., Steenbeek, J., Coll, M., von der Heydt, A.S. and Dijkstra, H.A., 2025. Global marine ecosystem response to a strong AMOC weakening under low and high future emission scenarios. Earth's Future, 13(1), p.e2024EF004741.

   https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EF004741

3. Moretti, E., Loreau, M. & Benzaquen, M., 2025. Farm Size Matters: A Spatially Explicit Ecological-Economic Framework for Biodiversity and Pest Control. arXiv preprint arXiv:2505.17687.

   https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.17687

4. Cuthbert, R. N. et al., 2025. Harnessing traits to predict economic impacts from biological invasions.Biological Invasions. 
   

   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169534725000886

5. McCauley, D. J., 2006. Selling out on nature. Nature, 443(7107): 27-28. 
   

   https://doi.org/10.1038/443027a