HYDROELECTRIC DAMS VS. THE ENVIRONMENT IN PATAGONIA
EVST 595, HSTR 595, EDLD 694, MBA 694, FOR 595, BIOL 595 - 3 Graduate Credits
EVST 495, HSTR 495, FIN 495, FOR 495, MGMT 495 - 3 Undergraduate Credits
UM faculty members David Aronofsky and Keith Jakob are co-teaching a 2011 Wintersession course in Chile, open to law, graduate and upper level undergraduate students in all disciplines as a 3-credit elective. Set against the background of Chile’s dramatic political transformation from military dictatorship to vibrant democracy, the course focuses on Chile, Montana and global ecology law and policy developments within a free market economy. Chile is a country with both aggressive free market economic policies and comprehensive environmental protection laws characterized by a still emerging enforcement record as Chile’s lawmakers, courts, government enforcement agencies and NGO’s empowered to bring private lawsuits learn the parameters of these laws. The course begins in Santiago, Chile’s capital, where students will study Chile, Montana and global ecology policy, business and legal issues from leading Chilean experts and Montana faculty members. Students then travel to Chile’s northern Patagonia Aysén region to study first-hand the Hidroaisén project, one of the world’s most controversial large scale, environmentally-sensitive energy development proposals which is testing the limits of the country’s environmental laws and policies. Students will work with CIEP, a Coyhaique-based research center created by several Chilean and European universities, UM, and Chile’s regional and national governments to study northern Patagonia ecosystems. CIEP has organized a detailed itinerary for students and faculty to see first-hand most of the Aysén region and understand why the Hidroaisén project is generating so much controversy. A pre-course trip to Viña del Mar and Valparaiso to spend New Year’s Eve will also likely be organized by Professor Aronofsky as with past courses, at separate additional student cost.
Chilean guest lecturers will give insight into course topics and identify issues to be worked on by the students. Dr. Aronofsky, UM Legal Counsel and an adjunct Law School faculty member who co-taught all 6 prior UM Chile Wintersession courses and has worked academically and professionally in Chile since 1976, will teach the Santiago part of the course. The Patagonia part of the course will be taught by Dr. Jakob, the Byrnes Professor of Finance who is an expert on world financial markets, has worked in Chile and co-taught the 2010 Chile course. Course grades are based on class preparation/participation and an individual or group paper, due in May 2011, on a relevant course topic.
Any UM graduate student, junior or senior and any law student who petitions the Law School to enroll for non-law graduate credit may take the course. Tuition follows the state-support fee schedule, credits count toward Spring Semester total credit load, and students registering for more than 12 Spring credits pay no additional tuition. A course fee of $2,850 covers lodging, some meals, insurance, in-country travel and course materials costs. Students are also responsible for personal expenses and round trip airfare. The course is eligible for financial aid, including international travel costs. Contact Information
Dr. Aronofsky
Phone: 406.243.4742
E-mail: aronofskyd@mso.umt.edu
Dr. Jakob
Phone: 406.243.6159
E-mail: keith.jakob@business.umt.edu
Various meetings on the course will be held on campus in September and October. At least 16 students must register by November 15, 2009 to avoid course cancellation.