SCOPE (Sustainability Co-Creation Programme)

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SOC200HA(社会学 / Sociology 200)
Studies for Environment and Society

Shamik Chakraborty

Class code etc
Faculty/Graduate school SCOPE (Sustainability Co-Creation Programme)
Attached documents
Year 2023
Class code C3600
Previous Class code
Previous Class title
Term 秋学期授業/Fall
Day/Period 木3/Thu.3
Class Type
Campus 市ヶ谷 / Ichigaya
Classroom name
Grade 1~4
Credit(s) 2
Notes
Open Program
Open Program (Notes)
Global Open Program
Interdepartmental class taking system for Academic Achievers
Interdepartmental class taking system for Academic Achievers (Notes)
Class taught by instructors with practical experience
SDGs CP
Urban Design CP
Diversity CP
Learning for the Future CP
Carbon Neutral CP
Chiyoda Campus Consortium
Category 展開科目/Disciplinary & Elective Courses
環境総合科目/Environment & Society

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Outline and objectives

This course focuses on the understanding of environment and society as an integrated system. The course explores the theory of social-ecological systems, and with this theoretical underpinning, we will learn about different aspects of environment and society interactions. We will particularly focus on the role of human agency and its present and possible future roles for the state of the earth.
The course is roughly divided into two parts: (1) problems associated with the environment and society and (2) solutions toward more sustainable human-environment relationships.

Goal

At the end of the course, students will develop a good understanding of the main arguments related to environment and society relations from different case studies. These arguments include some of the classic environmental problems in our time, such as loss of biodiversity, climate change, water-energy-food nexus, environmental pollution, and diseases. The students will learn about efforts of conservation, and policies that strive to reduce human impact on the earth's natural systems that we need for our own survival.

Which item of the diploma policy will be obtained by taking this class?

Among diploma policies, "DP2" is related

Default language used in class

英語 / English

Method(s)(学期の途中で変更になる場合には、別途提示します。 /If the Method(s) is changed, we will announce the details of any changes. )

This course will be held online. The course will be based on weekly lectures, feedback from students based on the lectures and assignments. Feedback on assignments submitted by students will be provided in class or through the Learning Management System (Hoppii).

Active learning in class (Group discussion, Debate.etc.)

あり / Yes

Fieldwork in class

なし / No

Schedule

授業形態/methods of teaching:オンライン/online

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

Week 1[オンライン/online]:Nature and scope of the course

Introduction: guidance on the course. Environment & society: Nature and scope
Why we should study environment and society as an interlinked system?
Introduction to the concept of Anthropocene

Week 2[オンライン/online]:Critical viewpoints on environment and society relations

The human agency and its relation to the state of the earth

Week 3[オンライン/online]:Drivers of change

Drivers of change in society and nature: Focus on direct and indirect drivers

Week 4[オンライン/online]:Water, food and energy nexus

Water-food-energy connections and their roles in land use change and landscape sustainability.

Week 5[オンライン/online]:Theoretical understanding of environment and society relations

A brief introduction of social-ecological systems theory and its relation to landscape sustainability.

Week 6[オンライン/online]:Case studies

Selected case studies from Japan and abroad on unique socioecological relationships that ‘couple’ human and natural systems.

Week 7[オンライン/online]:Diseases in the Anthropocene

Diseases in the Anthropocene: Learning points from COVID-19

Week 8[オンライン/online]:Conservation 1

Valuing the wild: Landscape sustainability and the importance of ‘wild’ nature for human wellbeing. Some notable examples through case studies.

Week 9[オンライン/online]:Conservation 2

Putting people back to the landscapes: Landscape sustainability outside formally protected areas. Some notable examples through case studies.

Week 10[オンライン/online]:Governance and policies 1

Policies to link environment and society 1: Brief outline of biodiversity, ecosystem services and their role in the green economy and human wellbeing. Rebuilding institutions and communities.

Week 11[オンライン/online]:Governance and policies 2

Policies to link environment and society 2: Special focus on UN’s Sustainable Development Goals: connectivity between landscape, people and policies.

Week 12[オンライン/online]:Student presentations

Student presentations and discussions (Individual or group presentation will be decided based on the number of students enrolled)

Week 13[オンライン/online]:Student presentations

Student presentations and discussions (reserve day)

Week 14[オンライン/online]:Summary

Course wrap up (including feedbacks on the students presentations). Learning from history and looking forward.

Work to be done outside of class (preparation, etc.)

Preparatory study and review time for this class are 2 hours each.

Textbooks

People and Nature: An Introduction to Human Ecological Relations. Emilio F. Moran. Wily Blackwell, 2017

Please note that reading materials will be also provided in the class.

References

None

Grading criteria

Class participation, discussions: 30%
Student presentations: 30%
Final paper: 40%

Changes following student comments

No significant changes were required based on students' comments.

Equipment student needs to prepare

None

Others

Please note that if the number of students attending the first class significantly exceeds expectations, in order for the instructor to effectively manage the class, the number of students who are allowed to register for the course may be limited.