Pre-course Survey: 2026 Summer School on Environmental and Ecological Systems Engineering

Thank you for attending the 2026 Summer School on Environmental and Ecological Systems Engineering at Beijing Normal University. This short survey will help us understand your research background and interests, so that we can design the practical exercise around topics that are most relevant to participants.

Section 1: Basic information

Your name

Your university / institution

Your current research degree / role

Master’s student

PhD student

Postdoctoral researcher

Early-career researcher

Other, please specify

Your research discipline / field

Examples: environmental science, ecology, geography, chemical engineering, energy systems, industrial ecology, sustainability science, etc.

Section 2: Research background

What is the title of your Master’s or PhD research project?

Please briefly describe your research project in 2–3 sentences.

Which methods have you used before?[Multiple]

Material Flow Analysis (MFA)

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Techno-economic Analysis (TEA)

Input-output analysis

GIS / spatial analysis

Optimisation modelling

Machine learning / data-driven modelling

I have not used these methods before

Other, please specify

Please rate your experience with the following methods

	None	Basic	Intermediate	Advanced
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Techno-economic Analysis (TEA)
Techno-economic Analysis (TEA)
Systems modelling
Systems modelling

Section 3: Learning interests

What would you most like to learn from using MFA, LCA, or TEA?[Multiple]

How to quantify material flows and resource demand

How to assess environmental impacts and carbon emissions

How to compare different technologies or scenarios

How to evaluate circular economy strategies

How to assess costs and economic feasibility

How to combine environmental and economic analysis

How to use these methods in my own research project

Other, please specify

10.

Which application areas are you most interested in for the practical exercise?[Multiple]

Electric vehicle batteries

Hydrogen

Wind technologies

Solar technologies

Plastics

Waste management and recycling

Urban systems

Food, land, and agriculture

Water and wastewater systems

Other, please specify

11.

Which type of exercise would be most useful for you?

A beginner-friendly worked example

A hands-on calculation exercise using Excel

A data analysis exercise using Python or other software

A group-based case study discussion

A scenario comparison exercise

A research design exercise linked to participants’ own projects

Section 4: Software and practical skills

12.

What software or tools are you comfortable using?[Multiple]

Excel

Python

MATLAB

SimaPro

openLCA

Other, please specify

None of the above

13.

Have you used Python before?

No, I have never used Python

Yes, but only very basic experience

Yes, I can read and slightly modify Python scripts

Yes, I can write Python scripts for data analysis

Yes, I use Python regularly in my research

14.

If you have used Python before, what have you used it for?[Multiple]

Data cleaning and processing

Data visualisation

Statistical analysis

Modelling or simulation

Machine learning

GIS / spatial analysis

Automation of repetitive tasks

I have not used Python before

Other, please specify

Section 5: Expectations

15.

Do you have any specific questions or topics you hope the summer school will cover?

16.

Are you happy to work in a small group during the practical exercise?

Yes

Maybe

17.

Is there anything else you would like the instructors to know about your background, interests, or expectations?