Availability of an adequate supply of water of acceptable quality has been identified as one of the pressing problems facing many countries in the next decades. Further, most water sources in many parts of the world are shared among several nations, that is, they are transboundary waters. Many of the solutions to the world's pressing water resources problems are, and will continue to be, developed by environmental engineers. In order to find sustainable solutions to problems among nations which share transboundary water resources, engineers need to understand this complex, multidisciplinary, and multidimensional subject. This course will provide the student an introduction to the planning, policy, and development of water resources in the international setting, with particular emphasis on transboundary situations. The student will learn basic concepts of water rights and international law pertaining to transboundary water use and protection, economic analysis and how these concepts apply to various transboundary water resources problems, international development goals and how these relate to water supply and use. The course will focus on countries with developed, transitional, and developing economies using extensive case studies materials for several basins. The course will be taught in a participatory, seminar style format with students taking a very active role.
Topical outline see:
Specific Course
Objectives
Be able to understand the context of international and transboundary water resources issues and their relation to engineering planning and design as well as economic development and regional security.
Understand the advantages and limitations of various types of international water conventions, treaties, and agreements and how they affect water resources development, especially in transboundary situations.
Understand and appreciate how planning and management decision-making processes have been undertaken in selected basins of the world.
Understand and critically evaluate literature in international water resources planning and development.
Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.
Required:
1. Bridges over Water: Understanding Transboundary Water Conflict, Negotiation And Cooperation, Dinar, A., S. Dinar, S. McCaffrey, D. McKinney, World Scientific Publishing Company, 2007 (ISBN-10: 981256893X, ISBN-13: 978-9812568939, $63.50 on Amazon)
2. Transboundary Water Challenges: Case Studies, D. C. McKinney, University of Texas at Austin, 2008 (available online from instructor)
Homework will consist of reading assignments and periodic writing assignments. All assignments will be posted on the World Wide Web at the address: http://www.ce.utexas.edu/prof/mckinney/ce397d/assign.html and may be modified from time to time by the instructor.
Reading Assignments
There are two categories of readings in this course:
1. Required Readings are simply that—required. Required Readings for a given topic must be read and digested before the seminar meets. Generally, these readings are listed in an order reflecting the logical development of the topic and can most profitably be read in that order.
2. Supplementary Readings are suggestions for further readings that we do not require but think worth recommending specifically. Supplemental Readings are listed for those who might wish to pursue a particular topic in greater depth, but they are neither required nor provided to students.
Writing Assignments
Short essays: During the course you will be asked to prepare two short papers that you will use for leading seminar discussions on the assigned topic. These short papers will be less than 1,250 words and the format will be based on the "topic" pages used for the course. You will be expected to read and research deeper into the material than for the topics for which you are not the discussion leader, that is you should be prepared to bring material from the supplementary readings into the discussion. In addition, you will prepare a PowerPoint presentation to facilitate the seminar discussion.
2-Minute Paper: You will prepare a short (3-5 pages) issue paper on a particular topic of your choice. This paper will be turned in at the beginning of the last week of class. During the last class day, these papers will presented in the form of "briefings", where each student will have 2 minutes to present the problem addressed, the main points and the conclusions of their paper.
Since this course depends on active student participation, attendance is mandatory and represents a reasonable portion of the student's grade.
My office hours are listed on the WWW home page for the course. In addition to my posted office hours, I am available at other times to discuss the course material or other topics of interest to students. Please feel free to come to my office, call me on the telephone (471-5644), or send me E-mail: daene@aol.com. Please feel free to send me email at any time. I will respond promptly.
There are no exams for this course.
The basis of grading for this course will consist of the following components with the indicated weights:
Participation: 30%
Students are expected to participate actively in the classroom discussions as well as to prepare and present materials to the class on a regular basis.
Writing Assignments: 70% (2 @ 25%, 1 @ 20%)
During the course you will be asked to prepare two short papers (less than 1,250 words) and PowerPoint presentations that will be used for leading seminar discussions on the assigned topics. These short papers will be and the format will be based on the "topic" pages used for the course. You will be expected to read and research deeper into the material than for the topics for which you are not the discussion leader, that is you should be prepared to bring material from the supplementary readings into the discussion.
In addition, you will prepare a short (3-5 pages) issue paper on a particular topic of your choice. This paper will be turned in at the beginning of the last week of class. During the last class day, these papers will presented in the form of "briefings", where each student will have 2 minutes to present the problem addressed, the main points and the conclusions of their paper.
Letter grades will be based on the weighted average specified above and assigned as follows:
See Course Schedule for proceedures: http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/schedules/
Standard approved MEC form will be used.
The University of Texas at Austin provides, upon request, appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. Any student with a documented disability (physical or cognitive) who requires academic accommodations should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities area of the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259 as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations. For more information, contact that Office, or TDD at 471-4641, or the College of Engineering Director of Students with Disabilities at 471-4321
Web-based, password-protected class sites will be associated with all academic courses taught at the University. Syllabi, handouts, assignments and other resources are types of information that may be available within these sites. Site activities could include exchanging email, engaging in class discussions and chats, and exchanging files. In addition, electronic class rosters will be a component of the sites. Students who do not want their names included in these electronic class rosters must restrict their directory information in the Office of the Registrar, Main Building, Room 1. For information on restricting directory information, see page 7 of the Course Schedule or http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/catalogs/gi00-01/app/appc09.html.