PhD Position – Agent-based Modelling of Multiple Climate and Social Tipping Points at University of Warsaw, Poland

The University of Warsaw is looking for a PhD student to join the project on “An Agent-Based Integrated Assessment of Climate and Social Tipping Points” led by Prof. Karolina Safarzynska.

Climate change constitutes one of the most pressing problems nowadays. Recent estimates show that this year, the global temperature increase will reach 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level, which scientists believe is alarming.

Most economic models to tackle climate change focus on technical solutions, ignoring behavior change. However, a number of social tipping interventions that can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions have been identified in the literature related to the creation of the critical mass of adopters of new technologies and behaviors (recycling, reduction in meat consumption, electric cars, renewable energy) that can reduce emissions substantially. In this project, the University of Warsaw will propose new models to study how to achieve such social change and prevent climate tipping cascades. A climate tipping point is a critical value in the global temperature, after which it is crossed, a catastrophic event may occur. Such catastrophes can cause abrupt and persistent changes in climate and the economy.

Ph.D. candidates to work on social and climate tipping points are invited to apply, to study policies that can help create networks of users of new technologies that may reduce global carbon dioxide emissions and prevent climate change. The project offers the opportunity to learn cutting-edge methods in economics: agent-based modelling and dynamics on networks, and to apply them to study policy-relevant questions.

Read the full job announcement

Application deadline: 30 March 2024