Analyzing Climate Data (NUTR-0338)

Spring 2025 · NUTR 0338 · Tufts University · 3 credits · Undergraduate

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme events, yet people continue to use experiences from the past to prepare for the future. We are driving while looking in the rear-view mirror. Large datasets from climate models can enable us to better understand how climate change is affecting the food system, and how it will impact the food system in the future. In this project-based course, students will select a food production system in a specific part of the world as their case study location to analyze throughout the semester. We will identify key vulnerabilities, such as high temperatures during the grain-filling phase of crop development, and translate these into the specific climate variables of interest in that location. Students will then download and manipulate large climate datasets to assess how climate change might affect the food system component of interest. Every week, we will collectively work through the data analysis together in the “analysis” half of class. The other half of class will be spent in discussion of theory and case studies relating to climate extremes in agriculture. Many classes will feature a 20-minute guest speaker on the topic of the week, who will offer a short presentation and Q&A. Students will present their results in an oral presentation and written paper in the style of an academic article.

Course codes: NUTR-0338, NUTR 0338, NUTR0338, NUTR-338, NUTR 338, NUTR338

• 01-LEC (Lecture) — Erin Coughlan