Module ANTH2377: Sustainability and the Environment

Department: Anthropology

ANTH2377: Sustainability and the Environment

Prerequisites

• Health, Illness, and Society (ANTH1041) OR People & Cultures (ANTH1061) OR Human Evolution and Diversity (ANTH1091)

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To introduce students to the field of sustainability and to a range of recent approaches to sustainability from the social sciences
• To develop an understanding of how diverse knowledge of the environment shape different approaches to socio-environmental change
• To apply a critical social science approach to empirical case-studies of global challenges in the Anthropocene such as energy practices, pollution, food security, resource extraction and water scarcity

Content

• Introduction to the rise of sustainability in development, policy and business environments, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Introduction to a range of approaches to sustainability and environmental knowledge from the social sciences
• Introduction to key topics in environmental anthropology, which may include: sustainable livelihoods; sustainable transitions; environmental justice; health impacts of climate change; resilience and climate adaptation; prosperity and post-growth; resource making and extractivism; pollution and toxicity.
• Critical examination of key SDGs through empirical ethnographic examples. These may include: affordable and clean energy (SDG7); responsible consumption and production (SDG12); climate action (SDG13); good health and wellbeing (SDG3)
• Critical examination of the relationship between economic growth and sustainability, and exploration of various post-growth alternatives
• Critical assessment of different models and metrics of sustainability
• Comparing and contrasting theories of change, such as ecological modernisation, circular economy, degrowth, geo-engineering, green economy, degrowth, critical studies of the commons, deep ecology, ecofeminism, ecosocialism, environmental justice, nature rights, CSR

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the course, students will have gained:
• Knowledge of the history of sustainability, the SDGs, different concepts of sustainability and anthropological and social science approaches to studying sustainability
• Knowledge of key topics in sustainability research – including energy use, climate change, pollution, resource scarcity
• Knowledge of the contributions and limitations of different theories of socio-environmental change

• Critical evaluation of theories, concepts, and models of sustainability
• Ability to apply sustainability theories to empirical case-studies and relate these to the SDGs

• Analytical and creative thinking: capacity to apply critical social science theory, methodology and knowledge to a range of empirical case-studies; and to interpret primary and secondary data through seminar readings, discussions, assessments
• Problem-solving skills: capacity to think about the framing and solutions to global challenges of sustainability, through seminar discussions and readings
• Independent research and literature review: through summative assessment
• Oral and verbal communication skills: through seminar discussions or presentations
• Presentation skills: through seminar discussions, formative assessment
• Teamwork: through small group work exercises and seminar discussions

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Modes of teaching and learning include lectures, seminars, reading and discussion, group work
• Teaching and learning materials will include anthropological and other social sciences’ literature, academic and non-academic publications, including books, articles, online resources, policy reports, official papers, visual and audio media (films, photographs, podcasts).
• Seminars will explore lecture material in greater depth through group discussion and analysis of the case-studies. Seminar discussions will deepen understanding and critical reflection on the material seen in the lecture through reading preparation, and prepare students for their summative assignment
• Student preparation and reading time will allow informed engagement with the material in advance of tutorials and lectures, and are essential to attend lectures/seminars and to prepare students for the written assignment.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

A 500-word written assignment

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University