Course Schedule

This page contains a schedule of the topics, content, and assignments for the semester. Note that this schedule will be updated as necessary the semester progresses, with all changes documented here. Readings requiring institutional subscriptions can be accessed through the Cornell Library.

Week	Date	Topic	Reading
		*Module 1: Introduction to Systems Analysis*
1	Mon, Aug 25	Welcome to BEE 4750!
	Wed, Aug 27	Lab: Setting up Julia and GitHub
2	Mon, Sep 01	No Class: Labor Day	Liu et al. (2007)
	Wed, Sep 03	Introduction to Systems Models
3	Mon, Sep 08	System Dynamics: Feedbacks	Woodard et al. (2019)
	Wed, Sep 10	Equilibria and Bifurcations
4	Mon, Sep 15	Simulation Models	Oreskes et al. (1994)
	Wed, Sep 17	Dissolved Oxygen
5	Mon, Sep 22	More Dissolved Oxygen and Simulation	Simpson et al. (2021)
	Wed, Sep 24	Uncertainty and Monte Carlo
6	Mon, Sep 29	Monte Carlo: Why It Works
	Wed, Oct 01	Lab: Monte Carlo
7	Mon, Oct 06	Prescriptive Modeling
	Wed, Oct 08	Prelim 1
8	Mon, Oct 13	No Class: Fall Break
	Wed, Oct 15	Decision Models and Optimization
9	Mon, Oct 20	Shadow Prices and Capacity Expansion
	Wed, Oct 22	Lab: Linear Programming
10	Mon, Oct 27	Prelim Review and Capacity Expansion II
	Wed, Oct 29	Economic Dispatch
11	Mon, Nov 03	Fixed Costs and Mixed Integer Programs
	Wed, Nov 05	No Class
12	Mon, Nov 10	Network Models and Solid Waste Management
	Wed, Nov 12	Prelim 2
13	Mon, Nov 17	Stochastic Optimization	Ackoff (1979)
	Wed, Nov 19	Multiple Objectives
14	Mon, Nov 24	Sensitivity Analysis
	Wed, Nov 26	No Class: Thanksgiving Break
15	Mon, Dec 01	No Class: Vivek Sick
	Wed, Dec 03	Prelim 2 Review and Simulation-Optimization
16	Mon, Dec 08	No Class: Project Work

References

Ackoff, R. L. (1979). The Future of Operational Research is Past. J. Oper. Res. Soc., 30, 93–104. https://doi.org/10.1057/jors.1979.22

Liu, J., Dietz, T., Carpenter, S. R., Alberti, M., Folke, C., Moran, E., et al. (2007). Complexity of coupled human and natural systems. Science, 317, 1513–1516. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1144004

Oreskes, N., Shrader-Frechette, K., & Belitz, K. (1994). Verification, validation, and confirmation of numerical models in the Earth sciences. Science, 263, 641–646. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.263.5147.641

Simpson, N. P., Mach, K. J., Constable, A., Hess, J., Hogarth, R., Howden, M., et al. (2021). A framework for complex climate change risk assessment. One Earth, 4, 489–501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2021.03.005

Woodard, D. L., Davis, S. J., & Randerson, J. T. (2019). Economic carbon cycle feedbacks may offset additional warming from natural feedbacks. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116, 759–764. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1805187115