IST 597-007: AI, Systems Modeling and Carbon

• Semester: Fall 2025
• Instructor: Feng Tao
• Who: Students who can use this course as:
  • Ph.D. specialization course
  • M.S. Elective Course
• When: F 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Where: E202 Westgate Building
• Instruction Mode: In person
• Credits: 3.0
• LionPATH Class Number: 29708

• Land carbon cycle and its response to climate change
• Key concepts and mechanisms
• Global land carbon cycle modeling
• Land as a solution to climate change? (Vegetation)
• Land as a solution to climate change? (Soil)
• AI in land carbon cycle: Fundamentals and applications
• AI in land carbon cycle: Demystify black-boxes for mechanistic understanding

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to

• Have a brief yet comprehensive understanding of the global land carbon cycle.
• Appreciate the potential of different components in the land system (i.e., vegetation and soil) to remove carbon dioxide.
• Learn the mathematical basis of system modeling (mechanistic/process-based modeling).
• Develop skills to bridge system modeling with neural networks for scientifically interpretable AI.
• Develop and improve scientific communication and critique skills.

• Participation & Readings: 30%
  • Engagement with classic paper readings in class discussions.
• Critical Analysis Assignments: 30%
  • Written scientific critiques of research articles.
• Presentation: 40%
  • Contribution to literature presentation.