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This website features work from the completion of Phase 1 of the SCALES Project.

We are currently seeking partnerships for Phase 2.

Undergraduate

  • Dream Project Exercise

    Take an index card, and prepare a short summary.

    Step 1 (on side 1 of the index card): Describe your dream project (drawing from any combo of disciplines, any scale, however far-fetched or down-to-earth).

    • Dream project name/title
    • Dream project summary (50 words maximum)
    • What else do you need to make this dream a reality?

    If you don’t have a dream project yet, describe a sector or geographical area in which you would like to be focused.

    Step 2 (on side 2 of the index card): Get yourself recruited into a Dream Team! What are your special gifts?

    • Reason a team should want to recruit you—ie., your special skills and capabilities (50 words maximum)
    • Types of project sought
    • Does your dream project fit in the Drawdown and/or 2020 framework?
    Read more: Dream Project Exercise

  • Drawdown

    Browse the Drawdown solutions and pick one that interests you. Come prepared to class to present that solution, either informally (sitting at your seat and just talking) or formally (preparing some slides for class presentation, and/or some related material you have dug up on that solution). Your presentation might take 5 minutes or so.

    Read more: Drawdown

  • Tutorials

    The tutorial is an opportunity to pick a topic of your choice from the universe of topics pertaining to the subjects of water, climate change, and health and share that with the class. The tutorial will be undertaken either with one teammate, or individually. It can be done in any format of your choice, with creative, non-traditional pedagogies (eg. demos, games, workshops, other activities) most welcome. 

    There will be roughly one tutorial per week.

    Read more: Tutorials

  • Ocean Carbon System

    In this problem set you will calculate the amount of anthropogenic CO2 taken up by the ocean when ocean parameters have changed in response to global climate change.

    Read more: Ocean Carbon System

  • Ocean Physics and Climate

    The object of this problem set is to explore climate sensitivity in a slightly more complex version of the multi-level radiative-convective model discussed in class.

    Read more: Ocean Physics and Climate

  • Paleoclimate

    Problem set focused on paleoclimate from the course Climate Physics and Chemistry.

    Read more: Paleoclimate

  • Assignment 3: Big Plan

    In Assignment 1, you explored the city through large-scale processes. In Assignment 2, you focused on unearthing key issues in specific Boston/Cambridge neighborhoods. For your final assignment, you will form your own vision, your own Big Plan.

    Read more: Assignment 3: Big Plan

  • Assignment 2: Site Probes

    In teams of 1, 2, OR 3, students will conduct visits to sites of their own choice. Using direct observation, photography, mapping, and online data collection, you will “probe” your site, uncovering social, political, economic, physical, and environmental conditions specific to that place.

    Read more: Assignment 2: Site Probes

  • Assignment 1: Elemental Case Study

    Small group project exploring the urban/planning implications of water, food, “nature” (however specifically defined), energy, and communications in the Boston area. Each small group will be assigned an “element” to research and document.

    Read more: Assignment 1: Elemental Case Study

  • Discussion Question – Innovative Games

    Both authors emphasize the potential of games to address relevant social issues and educate the gamers. What are some cultural, political, or ethical issues that you think might be usefully addressed by games? How would you design a game to address this issue? (Brainstorm and get creative!)

    Read more: Discussion Question – Innovative Games

Notice something that doesn’t seem right? Want to make a suggestion or provide feedback about how something is classified? 
Please reach out to esi [at] mit.edu and include SCALES Website in the subject of your email.
Feedback and any actions taken with regards to the feedback, will be shared as they are addressed.