Sustainability and Health

This information is subject to changes.

Entry requirements

Second year students of the Honours College FSW programme, Science & Society track.

Introduction

As the world population increases and consumption expands, pressure on ecosystems intensifies. Although industrialisation and globalisation have generated unprecedented levels of material affluence for some parts of the world population, exploitation of ecosystems and human resources has led to health issues on physical and mental levels for humans and non-human agents alike.

In this introductory course, we will discuss a variety of insights on the influence of contemporary economic systems on ecosystems and human physical and mental health. We will explore the possibilities of developing sustainable alternatives that allow for a healthier society.

Learning objectives

After completing this course, you will:

• be familiair with a broad range of insights on sustainability and the interplay between politics, economy, ecosystems and human physical and mental health;

• be able to reflect on sustainability and health from different perspectives;

• be familiar with current debates on sustainable alternatives that allow for a healthier society.

Mode of instruction

The course starts with 4 interactive meetings. During the first 2 meetings guest speakers are asked to focus on recent discourses and to discuss sustainability and health from a sociological and psycohological perspective. Group discussion will take place during these meetings by using the Kaltura break-out rooms. During meeting 3 and 4 experts will confront us with the persistent reality that can stand in the way of building a more sustainable society. On May 4th (meeting 5, scheduled from 18.00-19.00!) peer-to-peer feedback will be given on each other's proposals. During the last meeting (May 25th), group-findings will be presented. See for more information BrightSpace.

Required literature

Robin Leichenko and Karen O'Brien: Climate and Society Transforming the Future (Polity Press 2019, as Paperback EAN 9780745684390; as e-book: EAN 9780745684420)

Assignments Sustainability and Health

I Preparatory Assignments
You prepare yourself for every meeting by doing a preparatory assignment. You will find the description of these assignments under the tab for the meeting in question. These will not be assessed.

II Final Group Assignment
With your expert group, you prepare and present a prevention- or intervention programme concerning Sustainability and Health (this can be done in different ways: text/video/podcast...). More info will be published in BrightSpace.

Language

English

Location

Online

Assessment

to be updated soon

Schedule

Registration

Registration via uSis, activity code 15648.

Contact information

If you have any questions, please contact Honours College FSW