Objectives
The objective of this course is to give the student a broad view of current advances in LCA methodology and application, including knowledge on state-of-the-art research in selected areas. The course is an arena for disseminating the expertise and experiences of senior LCA researchers to a new generation of PhD students, and for helping the PhD students create a network of young LCA researchers.
Outline of Content
The course combines seminars led by senior LCA researchers with student-centered discussions and activities. During the seminars, senior researchers will present and problematise methodological approaches and applications of LCA, based on their experiences in research and application of life cycle thinking in various areas.
Some of the senior LCA researchers and lecturers involved in the course include:Tomas Ekvall, Ann-Marie Tillman, Michael Hauschild, Rickard Arvidsson, Henrikke Baumann, Mathias Janssen, Gregory Peters, Paola Federica Albizzati, Bengt Steen, Göran Finnveden, Sverker Molander, Ulrika Palme, Niclas Ericsson, Martyn Futter, Dilip Khatiwada, Björn Spak, and Elisabeth Ekener.
This course contributes to creating a network of PhD students and young researchers. During meetings, students participate in group discussions where they get a chance to learn from each other’s experiences, reflect on their own and others’ research in view of current LCA research, and discuss limitations and possibilities for future developments of their work. The students will also present their current and planned work to others. An important aspect of the meetings is also to engage in networking activities.
Outline of Schedule
The course will consist of four weeks. The first week is dedicated to preparatory reading. The second week will be held in person at the Chalmers campus in Gothenburg. The third week will be held online. The fourth week will be held in person at the SLU campus in Uppsala.
Each day will consist of both seminars led by senior LCA researchers and student-centered activities. In between the meetings, all students will work individually and in groups to prepare for presentations during the second week of in-person gathering. Course literature will be announced prior to course start.
The seminars and discussions will include topics such as:
Perspectives on LCA and environmental analysis; The history of LCA; LCA as a multi-purpose tool in the organization; Actors in the life cycle; Attributional/consequential LCA; Time in LCA; Prospective LCA; Uncertainties in LCA; LCA software; Fundamental LCIA concepts and methods; Biodiversity; Waste management; Water footprint; Climate impact; Toxicity impact assessment; Mineral resource impact assessment; Monetary valuation; Business model LCA; LCA and standardization; AI in LCA; Life cycle costing; Social LCA; and Life cycle sustainability assessment.
Locations
The first week will be dedicated to preparatory reading.
The second week will be held in Gothenburg, at Chalmers University of Technology on the 25th-28th of August.
The third week will be held online the 1st-3rd of September.
The fourth week will be held in Uppsala, at SLU, campus Ultuna on the 15th-18th of September.
Required previous knowledge
To be admitted to the course, the student must be admitted to third-cycle education (PhD project) in a topic of relevance for the course. The student must also have completed an undergraduate or graduate LCA course, and have significant experience from the use of LCA, and be able to demonstrate this competence. As demonstration, the student is asked to submit at least one published LCA work during the registration, e.g. a master thesis, report, or journal article.
Language
English
Participants
The number of participants is limited to a maximum of 25 students.
Exam requirements
The following is required to complete the course:
- Attend minimum 75% of scheduled activities
- Participate actively in discussions during scheduled activities
- Prepare and present a group project about LCA research development
- Prepare and present an individual project about the student’s own work in view of areas covered in the course
