FREE online course on Agriculture, Economics and Nature

The University of Western Australia is offering a free online course on the economics of agriculture, natural resources and the environment.

This course is about agricultural production and the interaction between agriculture and the environment. The material presented can help us understand the changes that have occurred in agriculture, and support improved decision making about things like agricultural production methods, agricultural input levels, resource conservation, and the balance between agricultural production and its environmental impacts.

The course will be presented by Professor David Pannell, who is one of Australia’s leading economists working in the area of agriculture, natural resources and environment. His research include work on the economics of farming systems, land conservation, farmers’ behavior, agri-environmental policy, risk in agriculture, weed management, and environmental management. At the University of Western Australia, David is Head of the School of Agricultural and Resource Economics, and Director of the Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy.

The course will be presented over six weeks, starting February 2, 2015, with a different focus each week. A set of lecture videos, mostly between 5 and 10 minutes in length are provided each week, together with readings, activities, student forums, quizzes and a final exam. No prerequisites or prior knowledge is needed. Certificates will be provided to those who successfully complete the course.

The course is made possible through the generous support of Yara Pilbara.

To register, go to http://courses.class2go.uwa.edu.au/ageconnature/. The site includes a brief video that provides an overview of the course. Register now and we will provide reminders when the course is starting. If you have any questions about the course please email mooc-are@uwa.edu.au.