Objectives



Today, in the country, there is a lack of postgraduate programs that train professionals at the doctoral level able to contribute as a researcher or manager in facing the great challenges of global environmental changes. Thus, INPE’s Postgraduate Program in Earth System Science has initiated a research program on the science of global and regional environmental change that addresses the biogeophysical and socioeconomic factors that influence the Earth System and, consequently, the consequences for society, due quality and the environment, well-being and health.

In order for this contribution to society to be achieved, the general objective of the Postgraduate Program in Terrestrial System Science is the training of human resources at the doctoral level, with specialized training in the search for concrete solutions to global environmental problems that have repercussions. Brazil and South America, using modeling tools, including high-performance and environmental data analysis tools. Doctors in Earth System Science should, based on scientific and technological development, meet the social and institutional demands related to the identification and quantification of the impacts and vulnerabilities of society and natural systems in the face of contemporary environmental changes, and thus guide measures of adaptation. This research program seeks to expand existing knowledge and collaborate with other national and international research activities to produce results that are both of high scientific quality and of direct relevance to public policy at various time and space scales. Thus, this program aims to make significant contributions to the debate on environmental, social and economic sustainability, especially related to development issues. As a methodological tool to achieve these strategic objectives, it will be contributing to the development of Applied Terrestrial System Science.

Specifically about Earth System modeling, the current strategy of model implementation seeks an open framework in which different conceptual models can be adapted and tested. Its evolution ranges from the development of classical Earth System models, which add more and more elements and complexity, to the use of complex systems science tools, which recognize that parts of such a system can lead to new emerging structures. and self-organization. For the development of the Earth System models it is recommended that future models should involve users and decision makers so that they can understand the concepts and uncertainties. The applied purpose of the development of such models is to be an auxiliary tool in the conduct and management of the Earth System by society. The questions to be answered by Earth System models are high-level systemic questions. Future climate scenarios are based on the use of global climate models, which bear some resemblance to numerical models for seasonal climate prediction, but numerical simulations cover periods from decades to centuries, based on some assumptions that define gas emissions. greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that lead to global warming.

The Applied Terrestrial System Science seeks in interdisciplinarity and transversality, the development of knowledge focused on regional environmental problems in Brazil. The uniqueness of this area stems not only from its recent process of intellectual design, but especially from the challenges facing global society in the various spectra of human activity related to the environment. Thus, its evolution requires a strong component of scientific development, with observational and basic science studies, and technology with innovative products for monitoring and predicting the evolution, interactions, fluctuations and perturbations of the Earth System.

The proposed organization of research and academic activities at CCST provides for a structure based on three components, ranging from climate studies to socioeconomic studies through cross-sectional projects.

In the modeling component, one of CCST’s major scientific challenges is its ability to represent the Earth System, encompassing not only the physical and biological dimensions, but also the human dimensions. The challenge of studying these dimensions in an integrated way is embryonic globally, especially in developing countries. Among the various research actions carried out in CST, there are several collaborative efforts in the areas of development of computational modeling frameworks that represent the different components of the Earth System, as well as parameterization of existing models.

As a second component, the environmental variable monitoring networks, coordinated by the CCST, seek to build a reliable database, with historical and future perspective, that will allow us to capture the effects of global environmental changes, bringing information to the public domain to support research. and decision-making. Currently, the information bases generated support not only the Center’s strategic objectives, but also the modeling of the Earth System, the construction of scenarios and diagnoses of anthropic action in the environment, as well as other areas of INPE. In short, observation network data, together with model products, aim to provide reliable and public data for both the private sector and decision makers in different spheres of society, the private sector and government.

The third component of the CCST seeks to formulate scenarios for sustainable national development, integrating data from observation networks and Earth System modeling products. Through the modeling of the Earth System, with the products generated by the models in their respective projection sets, the groups use for their analysis and scenario development describing their results and generating the products for the general public. For example, the Hydrology and Natural Disasters group uses modeling of the various components of the hydrological cycle and processes for interactions and patterns that condition the hydrological response of the basins, and analyzes of population vulnerability to environmental degradation and extreme hydro-climatic events. . It is proposed here the transition from traditional research logic, focused on studies of social and environmental impacts, to the analysis of the trajectories, limits and spatiotemporal patterns under which the stability of natural systems can be sustained. This transition represents one of the greatest challenges to modern science and is also a key aspect in supporting the formulation of more consistent public policies.

The development of the scientific agenda proposed by the CST Graduate Program aims to provide favorable conditions for the development of scientific excellence in the country in the various areas of global environmental change, with implications for sustainable development. This is essential when considering that the economy of developing nations is strongly linked to renewable natural resources such as Brazil. Plans to make the country an environmental power, or a developed tropical country, must take into account environmental limitations and impacts. Thus, it is expected that the Graduate in CST will allow to continue creating conditions for the emergence of new knowledge, with consequent growth and maturation of the Brazilian scientific community.

Egress Profile

Professionals graduating from PPG-CST have a solid knowledge of some of the natural sciences and quantitative assessment tools, particularly models of Earth System components, and at the same time understand the language of the social sciences and humanities in aspects of human action on the environment and the impacts of environmental changes on human systems. This graduate student is prepared to address complex and comprehensive aspects of human actions on the global environment and to think about future technologies for sustainable development, that is, those technologies that underpin the paradigm shift towards sustainable forms of production and consumption. . Thus, it is concluded that there is a need for differentiation in the formation of the doctoral student of the PPG in CST to deal with complex sustainability issues, also requiring humanistic training in order to make the country advance autonomously in Earth System science, notably in its applications. of social relevance to Brazil. Thus, professionals will have interdisciplinary training to work on environmental and development issues, and may be absorbed by national and international research institutes and universities, as well as public and private sector companies, public environmental agencies, national and international research projects. among others.