Spring 2018 - GEOG 389W D100
Nature and Society (4)
Class Number: 3594
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 3 – Apr 10, 2018: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby -
Exam Times + Location:
Apr 13, 2018
Fri, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
John Pierce
pierce@sfu.ca
1 778 782-4577
Office: EDB 9632
Office Hours: Monday 12:30-2:30
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Prerequisites:
GEOG 221 or GEOG 241 (Students who received credit for EVSC 200 before 2011 may use it to meet the prerequisite requirement for this course).
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Examines the relationship between nature and society, covering the dominant geographical approaches to human-environment interaction, and their social, spatial, and political economic effects. Writing.
COURSE DETAILS:
This course addresses a central question: what was, is and should be our relationship to the environment? In attempting to answer this question we adopt a multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary perspective that combines natural, social and policy sciences with important historical, evolutionary and philosophical underpinnings. Exploration of environmental trends occurs from the global to the local scales at a variety of time scales.
1) Historical perspectives on human evolution and environmental change-from the Holocene to the Anthropocene.
2) Understanding key transitions: food/agriculture; industrial; energy; science; health and communications.
3) An introduction to megatrends and global environmental change-earth systems and social mega trends.
4) Ecosystem services and human well being-exploring linked social-ecological systems at different scales.
5) Solutions, strategies and technical fixes-are we tool smart but goal stupid?
6) Political, institutional, social and managerial responses to environmental change –from the local to the global.
7) Reconciling environment and development- tackling inequality and environmental change.
8) Sustainable development- the evolution of a concept and the challenge of co-evolution.
9) Moral and ethical questions as humans dominate their environments and the choices for future generations.
As a designated writing intensive course two writing assignments will be required around topics related to human-environment interactions.
Note: There will be no tutorials in the first week of classes.
Grading
- Final exam 40%
- Two writing assignments (20% each) 40%
- Tutorial participation 10%
- Tutorial presentation 10%
Materials
RECOMMENDED READING:
Vaclav Smil, Global Ecology, Routledge
Registrar Notes:
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS