Sweden

The course is intended to introduce some basic formal concepts and terminology pervading all areas of computer science, and to establish a common lexicon, including notational conventions and nomenclature, that subsequent courses can build upon. This includes an introduction to abstract set theory, relations, functions, ordered sets, Boolean algebra, logic, and proof techniques, as well as structures such as graphs and trees. Furthermore, the course discusses basic algorithms on graphs, an introduction to combinatorics, some fundamental proof strategies, and basic order structures such as lattices and complete partial orders (CPOs).

 

This course provides methodologies and tools for the adaptation of water resource systems with respect to climate change and climate variability. The course provides a fundamental understanding of the physical processes behind climate change and its effects on the hydrological cycle.  Course topics include the climate of the world, global circulation patterns, climate variability, basic meteorology, rain-generating processes, downscaling in time and space, changes in rainfall patterns, extreme events, disaster risk reduction, sea level change and its consequences on near-shore constructions, urban hydrology, maintaining quality drinking water in a changing climate, and problems unique to arid areas and developing countries.

The course examines the significance of cultural heritage and cultural memory in the United States in historical and contemporary perspectives. It centers on questions about identity, nationalism, politics, and commercialism, how history has been represented in for example monuments, museums, commemorations, political debates, and popular culture, as well as the conflicts that regularly occur in the United States around questions of cultural memory and heritage.

The course covers hydrogen as an energy carrier, how to produce it, and how to store it. The role of hydrogen in future energy systems is discussed. Electrochemical conversion in batteries and fuel cells is described and analyzed. All major transport processes, such as momentum, heat, mass, ion and current, and thermal management issues are presented. System integration is described. Properties and characteristics of energy-relevant materials and their role in electrochemical devices are treated. The relevance of energy systems and the transportation sector is discussed. Various engineering problems are presented.

This course discusses similarities of concepts and methods in finance and physics in order to enhance cross-fertilization of these fields. The course contains portfolio theory and constrained optimization, relations between stochastic differential equations, regression models, time series and forecasting. Bubbles, crashes, and path integrals in physics and finance is also part of the course.

This course examines morphology and syntax in English texts from two time periods. While inflections played an important role in Old English grammar, present-day English relies primarily on structures where word order and function words are of central importance. Students thus investigate morphological and syntactic aspects of Old and present-day English texts. Through independent research projects, students also learn how to apply methods of morphosyntactic analysis to authentic texts in order to describe the structure of English.

The course introduces computational approaches to model human behavior and social phenomena. Core concepts in computational social science are covered, such as observational studies (what types of data exist, possible biases, and how to use data for modeling), basic concepts and techniques for running experiments (asking vs. observing, natural experiments, simulations, validity, and generalization) and discuss key issues such as ethical considerations. The course has both a theoretical and a practical perspective, where you learn basic principles and also how to apply them in practice in three main areas: social network analysis; text analysis; agent-based modeling, and simulation.

The course covers linguistic behavior (speaking, writing, and gestures), production, perception, and understanding processes, as well as language acquisition. The course provides an increased understanding of the language acquisition process and how natural language is processed by language users in both production and perception. For example, it covers first language acquisition in children and second language learning in older children and adults as well as different theories of how language is processed from the point of view of behavioral science and neurocognition and methods for how these can be tested. Theories of language processing and acquisition of phonology, morphology, and syntax as well as semantics and vocabulary, are illustrated with and applied to authentic examples.

With a growing number of unsustainable environmental, economic, and social trends, how can different actors work for sustainable alternatives? How can we develop capacities, strategies and tactics that achieve lasting and real changes in the local and global world? To achieve a more vibrant and participatory sustainable development there is a need for great changes, both on the systemic and individual level. These changes can take the form of fast-moving revolutions, but can also be more reformist initiatives as social entrepreneurship in businesses or taking part in local politics. In the course different actors and their strategies for change, globally and locally, are critiqued and analyzed through discussions with guest lecturers and in workshops with fellow students. In the last part of the course students work on a concrete change project, which builds on the discussions and insights gained during the first part of the course.

The course introduces the topic of monetary systems in theory and in practice. It focuses on how today's international monetary systems have developed historically and, in particular, how today's monetary system may facilitate or impede the transition to a sustainable economy.