MAT1020 – Mathematics and Sustainable Management
Course content
Climate change impacts our lives, and society must become more sustainable to limit human-made climate changes and adapt to these. In this course we develop knowledge around climate modeling and data, and apply mathematics to analyse problems in sustainable management. We focus our studies around selected problems, including management of fishing resources, reduction of carbon emissions, design of renewable energy systems and green management of financial investments. The course is based on sequential decision theory and optimisation, where we use mathematics to formulate problems, model systems and find (compute) the answers.
Learning outcome
After completing the course you
- know how to formulate and analyse specific sustainable management problems using sequential decision theory and dynamic programming
- have insight into climate and environmental data, and the connection between measurements and general circulation models in climate science
- know how to analyse financial portfolios in light of sustainable requirements (ESG-requirements) using Markowitz' portfolio theory
- have learned to use quadratic optimisation theory with side constraints to design energy systems of wind and solar power
- understand data uncertainty and how to quantify this statistically
- how to use the computer to solve some optimisation problems
- have developed a critical view on the relationship between theory and reality.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Special admission requirements
In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
- Mathematics R1 or Mathematics (S1+S2)
The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies. Read more about special admission requirements (in Norwegian).
Recommended previous knowledge
- MAT1050 – Mathematics for Applications 1 or MAT1100 – Calculus
- It will be an advantage with a background in programming equivalent to one of the following courses:
Teaching
4 hours of lectures per week throughout the semester.
Examination
Final written exam which counts 100 % towards the final grade.
This course has 1 mandatory assignment that must be approved before you can sit the final exam.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in Norwegian. You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem)
Oct. 16, 2026 7:13:02 AM