Beyond Engineering: Building with Nature from edX

If you’re a coastal engineer, ecologist or planner, then this is the course for you. You already know that engineering and ecological principles are not enough to realize nature-friendly solutions in practice. You need people on your side!

In this course you will learn how to build a relevant coalition of stakeholders to support the design and implementation of ecosystem-based hydraulic infrastructures. After learning basic stakeholder mapping and game theory techniques, you will apply Social Design Principles to a Building with Nature ecosystem-based design case. This will equip you to identify promising collaborative arrangements for your engineering or planning practice.

The course builds on the previous Building with Nature MOOC, which explored the use of natural materials and ecological processes in achieving effective and sustainable hydraulic infrastructure designs, distilling Engineering and Ecological Design Principles. In this course, the missing element of Social Design Principles are developed and taught.

You’ll learn from renowned Dutch engineers and international environmental scientists, who work at the technical- governance interface. Iconic examples such as the Maasvlakte II expansion to Rotterdam Harbor and the Delfland Sand Engine Mega-nourishment serve as study material. The challenges in designing and implementing these nature-friendly hydraulic infrastructures are explored by the eminent professors who were responsible for their genesis.

Join us in becoming one of the new generation of engineers, ecologists and planners who see the Building with Nature integrated design approach as critical to hydraulic engineering, nature and society.

LICENSE The course materials of this course are Copyright Delft University of Technology and are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC-BY-NC-SA) 4.0 International License.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Identify relevant stakeholders for the design and implementation of nature-friendly hydraulic infrastructure.
Analyze the power and interests of these stakeholders, including their interdependence in terms of resources.

Apply basic game-theory principles in combination with the stakeholder analysis to determine potential coalitions in a building with nature project case.
Evaluate the suitability of the coalitions for designing and implementing a particular building with nature project case.

Identify relevant stakeholders for the design and implementation of nature-friendly hydraulic infrastructure.
Analyze the power and interests of these stakeholders, including their interdependence in terms of resources.
Apply basic game-theory principles in combination with the stakeholder analysis to determine potential coalitions in a building with nature project case.
Evaluate the suitability of the coalitions for designing and implementing a particular building with nature project case.

Syllabus

0. Necessary Background Knowledge1. Why Beyond Engineering?2. Stakeholder Identification and Mapping3. Game Theory4. Social Design Principles5. Towards Coalition Building

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for coastal engineers, ecologists, and planners with experience in hydraulic infrastructure projects

Introduces Social Design Principles that complement Engineering and Ecological Design Principles for more holistic project design

Facilitated by Dutch engineers and international environmental scientists with expertise in technical-governance interface for hydraulic infrastructure

Leverages case studies like the Maasvlakte II expansion and Delfland Sand Engine Mega-nourishment for practical insights

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Beyond Engineering: Building with Nature with these activities:

Review Game Theory

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Reviewing Game Theory will provide you with the foundational knowledge necessary to understand how stakeholders' power and interests interact.

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Read a textbook or online resource on game theory
Practice solving game theory problems

Stakeholder Analysis Drills

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Stakeholder analysis is critical for designing nature-friendly hydraulic infrastructure. These drills will help you develop the skills to effectively identify and map stakeholders.

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Identify stakeholders for a given engineering project
Map the stakeholders' interests and power
Analyze the potential conflicts and synergies between stakeholders

Stakeholder Mapping Exercise

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Practice stakeholder identification and mapping to better understand the relationships and interests of stakeholders involved in nature-friendly hydraulic infrastructure projects.

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Identify a real-world project
Create a stakeholder map

Ten other activities

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Tutorials on Social Design Principles

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Social Design Principles are essential for ensuring that nature-friendly hydraulic infrastructure projects are socially acceptable and sustainable. These tutorials will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of these principles.

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Watch video tutorials on Social Design Principles
Read articles and case studies on the application of Social Design Principles in hydraulic infrastructure projects
Participate in online discussions on Social Design Principles

Practice Game Theory Principles

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Increase your comprehension of Game Theory principles and their applications.

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Review the basics of Game Theory and its principles
Solve practice problems involving simple Game Theory models, such as the Prisoner's Dilemma
Analyze outcomes and identify optimal strategies

Practice applying the Social Design Principles to case studies

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Reinforce your understanding of the Social Design Principles and how to apply them in real-world scenarios.

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Review the Social Design Principles
Select a case study
Apply the Social Design Principles to the case study
Evaluate the results

Design a community outreach campaign

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Illustrate the principles of stakeholder mapping and coalition building by visualizing the groups involved in a community outreach campaign for a nature-friendly hydraulic infrastructure project.

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Identify stakeholders and their interests
Develop a communication plan
Create outreach materials
Implement the campaign
Evaluate the campaign's effectiveness

Discuss case studies in coalition building

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Engage with peers to analyze real-world case studies and identify patterns and best practices for building successful coalitions in the context of nature-friendly hydraulic infrastructure projects.

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Identify case studies
Prepare a presentation
Lead a discussion

Simulate a stakeholder negotiation

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Apply game theory principles to simulate negotiations between stakeholders in a Building with Nature project, helping to understand the dynamics and potential outcomes of stakeholder interactions.

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Identify a real-world case study
Develop a simulation model
Run the simulation
Analyze the results

Solve Stakeholder Analysis Case Studies

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Enhance your analytical skills by working through case studies involving stakeholder analysis.

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Review different case studies that involve stakeholder analysis
Identify the stakeholders, their interests, and their power
Analyze the potential conflicts and opportunities in each case study

Participate in a Social Design Principles Discussion Group

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Gain diverse perspectives on Social Design Principles through peer discussions.

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Join or create a discussion group focused on Social Design Principles
Engage in discussions, share insights, and learn from others' experiencias and perspectives
Reflect on the discussions and apply the principles to your own projects and endeavors

Attend a Workshop on Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

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Expand your knowledge and skills in stakeholder collaboration through a dedicated workshop.

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Research and identify relevant workshops on Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration
Participate actively in the workshop, engage with experts and peers, and contribute to discussions
Apply the learning to your own projects and endeavors

Participate in a Community Infrastructure Project

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Gain practical experience and insights into hydraulic engineering and community engagement through volunteer work.

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Research and identify community infrastructure projects that are in need of volunteers
Contact the project organizers and offer your assistance
Participate in the project activities, such as construction, maintenance, or outreach

Career center

Learners who complete Beyond Engineering: Building with Nature will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Coastal Engineer

As a Coastal Engineer, you will be responsible for designing and building structures to protect coastlines from erosion and flooding. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to design and build more sustainable coastal infrastructure projects that are in harmony with nature. You will learn how to identify and engage with stakeholders, analyze their interests, and build coalitions to support your projects. You will also learn how to apply game theory principles to help you make decisions about how to allocate resources and mitigate risks.

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Environmental Engineer

As an Environmental Engineer, you will be responsible for protecting the environment and human health from the impacts of human activities. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to design and implement solutions to environmental problems, such as water pollution, air pollution, and climate change. You will learn how to identify and engage with stakeholders, analyze their interests, and build coalitions to support your projects. You will also learn how to apply game theory principles to help you make decisions about how to allocate resources and mitigate risks.

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Ecosystem Manager

As an Ecosystem Manager, you will be responsible for managing ecosystems to maintain their health and resilience. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to develop and implement ecosystem management plans. You will learn how to identify and engage with stakeholders, analyze their interests, and build coalitions to support your plans. You will also learn how to apply game theory principles to help you make decisions about how to allocate resources and mitigate risks.

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Water Resources Manager

As a Water Resources Manager, you will be responsible for managing water resources to meet the needs of human populations and ecosystems. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to develop and implement water resources management plans. You will learn how to identify and engage with stakeholders, analyze their interests, and build coalitions to support your plans. You will also learn how to apply game theory principles to help you make decisions about how to allocate resources and mitigate risks.

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Conservation Scientist

As a Conservation Scientist, you will be responsible for conducting research to inform conservation decisions. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to design and conduct conservation research projects. You will learn how to identify and engage with stakeholders, analyze their interests, and build coalitions to support your research. You will also learn how to apply game theory principles to help you make decisions about how to allocate resources and mitigate risks.

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Climate Change Adaptation Specialist

As a Climate Change Adaptation Specialist, you will be responsible for helping communities and organizations to adapt to the impacts of climate change. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to develop and implement climate change adaptation plans. You will learn how to identify and engage with stakeholders, analyze their interests, and build coalitions to support your plans. You will also learn how to apply game theory principles to help you make decisions about how to allocate resources and mitigate risks.

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Planner

As a Planner, you will be responsible for developing plans for the future development of communities and regions. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to create more sustainable and resilient plans that are in harmony with nature. You will learn how to identify and engage with stakeholders, analyze their interests, and build coalitions to support your plans. You will also learn how to apply game theory principles to help you make decisions about how to allocate resources and mitigate risks.

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Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist

As a Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist, you will be responsible for helping communities and organizations to reduce their risk of disasters. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to develop and implement disaster risk reduction plans. You will learn how to identify and engage with stakeholders, analyze their interests, and build coalitions to support your plans. You will also learn how to apply game theory principles to help you make decisions about how to allocate resources and mitigate risks.

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Civil Engineer

As a Civil Engineer, you will be responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of infrastructure projects, such as buildings, bridges, and roads. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to design and build more sustainable infrastructure projects that are in harmony with nature. You will learn how to identify and engage with stakeholders, analyze their interests, and build coalitions to support your projects. You will also learn how to apply game theory principles to help you make decisions about how to allocate resources and mitigate risks.

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Sustainability Consultant

As a Sustainability Consultant, you will be responsible for helping organizations to improve their environmental performance. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to develop and implement sustainability strategies. You will learn how to identify and engage with stakeholders, analyze their interests, and build coalitions to support your strategies. You will also learn how to apply game theory principles to help you make decisions about how to allocate resources and mitigate risks.

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Social Entrepreneur

As a Social Entrepreneur, you will be responsible for starting and running businesses that address social and environmental problems. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to develop and implement social enterprise business plans. You will learn how to identify and engage with stakeholders, analyze their interests, and build coalitions to support your business. You will also learn how to apply game theory principles to help you make decisions about how to allocate resources and mitigate risks.

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Environmental Educator

As an Environmental Educator, you will be responsible for teaching people about environmental issues and how to protect the environment. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to develop and deliver environmental education programs. You will learn how to identify and engage with stakeholders, analyze their interests, and build coalitions to support your programs. You will also learn how to apply game theory principles to help you make decisions about how to allocate resources and mitigate risks.

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Policy Analyst

As a Policy Analyst, you will be responsible for researching and analyzing public policies. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to develop and evaluate policies that are in harmony with nature. You will learn how to identify and engage with stakeholders, analyze their interests, and build coalitions to support your policies. You will also learn how to apply game theory principles to help you make decisions about how to allocate resources and mitigate risks.

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Hydrologist

As a Hydrologist, you will be responsible for studying the movement and distribution of water on the Earth's surface and in the subsurface. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to understand and manage water resources. You will learn how to identify and engage with stakeholders, analyze their interests, and build coalitions to support your projects. You will also learn how to apply game theory principles to help you make decisions about how to allocate resources and mitigate risks.

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Project Manager

As a Project Manager, you will be responsible for planning, organizing, and executing projects. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to manage complex projects that involve multiple stakeholders. You will learn how to identify and engage with stakeholders, analyze their interests, and build coalitions to support your projects. You will also learn how to apply game theory principles to help you make decisions about how to allocate resources and mitigate risks.

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