International Law and Science
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The Couse aims at providing students with an understanding of the relationship between international law and science and with the capacity to critically assess whether: a question should be considered just as legal or as mixed problem of law and fact; when a scientific expertise is required to settle international legal disputes.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to: have knowledge of the procedural rules and mechanisms provided for by international courts and tribunals in order to deal with scientific matters; - acquire communication skills (written and oral) as regards the issues dealt with in the course and use them also to argue with logical and legal thoroughness and propriety of legal language. It is hoped that students will leave the course equipped with a skill set that is easily transferable and applicable to whichever career path they choose to pursue.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
During the emergency phase, lectures will be delivered in videoconference on MS Teams. Synchronous modality will be adopted and all the videoconferences will be registered and make available for students.
Groups activities will be organized as a part of the course taking advantage of the MS Teams channels. Students will be required to discuss cases or current topics proposed by the teacher and to prepare some papers that they will present to the class - if possibile - in presence.
All the teaching materials (ppt. Presentatitions, documents .) will be uploaded on Ariel together with reading materials and all the information and updates regarding the course.
Attendance to the course is mandatory.
Exams: oral exams will be held on MS Teams or in presence according to the instructions of UNIMI. The possibility to have a mid-term written test will be offered to the students.
Groups activities will be organized as a part of the course taking advantage of the MS Teams channels. Students will be required to discuss cases or current topics proposed by the teacher and to prepare some papers that they will present to the class - if possibile - in presence.
All the teaching materials (ppt. Presentatitions, documents .) will be uploaded on Ariel together with reading materials and all the information and updates regarding the course.
Attendance to the course is mandatory.
Exams: oral exams will be held on MS Teams or in presence according to the instructions of UNIMI. The possibility to have a mid-term written test will be offered to the students.
Course syllabus
The Course explores the complex and multi-faceted connections between law and science in the international domain. The issue, which has become more crucial with advancements in technology, will be mainly addressed in the context of environmental law and of human rights. Both substantive rules, dealing with scientific issues or with issues arising from science-related matters, and procedural rules, concerning the way how international courts and tribunals operate when they have to settle "scientific" disputes, will be analysed during the Course.
Prerequisites for admission
Students are required to have a good command of English language.
Having passed the exam of International law before attending the course is strongly reccomended.
Having passed the exam of International law before attending the course is strongly reccomended.
Teaching methods
Course attendance is mandatory, meaning that students will be required to attend at least 75% of classes.
The course is structured on lectures. Discussion of assigned readings on specific topics and case studies will be organized as a part of the activities for more in-depth coverage of selected controversial issues. The detailed programme and all the materials for the course, including the .ppt presentations used by the teacher at class, and for the final exam will be delivered at class and will be also uploaded on the Ariel web-platform of the University of Milan.
The course is structured on lectures. Discussion of assigned readings on specific topics and case studies will be organized as a part of the activities for more in-depth coverage of selected controversial issues. The detailed programme and all the materials for the course, including the .ppt presentations used by the teacher at class, and for the final exam will be delivered at class and will be also uploaded on the Ariel web-platform of the University of Milan.
Teaching Resources
T. Treves, Law and Science in the Interpretation of the Law of the Sea Convention, in Journal of International Dispute Settlement, Vol. 3, No. 3 (2012), pp. 483-491 doi:10.1093/jnlids/ids012; C. Foster, Science and the Precautionary Principle in International Courts and Tribunals. Expert Evidence, Burden of Proof and Finality, Cambridge, 2011. Further readings will be suggested during the course.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Students will be evaluated upon: their active participation to the course and to the activities that form an integral part of it (40%), the marks obtained in the written exam (40%) and in the final oral assessment (20%).
Professor(s)