Module ANTH30U7: People and Nature

Department: Anthropology

ANTH30U7: People and Nature

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To encourage critical reflection on the relationships between humans and nature.
• To understand the diversity of perspectives in key debates on human-wildlife relationships.
• To apply anthropological and ecological perspectives to explore the biodiversity crisis and its effects on human-nature interactions
• To investigate how environmental and anthropogenic change impact the nature and context of human-wildlife relationships.

Content

• This module will explore the diverse relationships between humans and nature.
• Topics will have some ecological or natural science relevance, but content will draw on and integrate a range of disciplinary perspectives.
• Themes will draw on contemporary issues and may include: People and nature and the biodiversity crisis; Consumptive use of wildlife; Human-wildlife interactions and ‘conflict’; Wildlife management and control; Wildlife trade; Citizen science and connection to nature; Human superpredators and human shields.

Learning Outcomes

• Advanced understanding of the relationships between humans and nature.
• In depth knowledge of major issues and case studies in human-wildlife relationships.

• Ability to access and synthesize specialised literature on the study of the relationship between humans and nature.
• Ability to critically analyse and evaluate information from different disciplines. 
• The ability to evaluate anthropological arguments and evidence.

• Analysis of complex issues, questions, debates, and critical arguments in discussions and written form.
• Integrating and evaluating a range of information and data from primary and secondary sources.
• The ability to communicate a complex topic in an effective and compelling manner.

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

• The module will integrate lecture, class and assessment surgery components, alongside wider reading.
• Lectures will provide students with an outline of key knowledge and debates in the topic area, highlighting relevant examples and cases studies.
• Classes will develop the topics and debates through analysing case studies via presentations and videos, discussion, group work and practical exercises.
• Assessment surgeries will help to prepare students for their summative assignment.
• Student preparation and reading time will allow engagement with specific studies relevant to the classes and reading related to the assessment.
• Summative assessment will consist of written assignment in the format of a Perspective article for an academic journal (e.g. People and Nature) drawing on the case topics and case studies in the classes.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Oral feedback on Perspectives plan in assessment surgery.