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Exploring Sustainability: Solutions for Tomorrow (IEL-B-3+5-WPM-IEL)
Department
- Bachelor's program Medical, Health and Sports Engineering
Course unit code
- IEL-B-3+5-WPM-IEL
Level of course unit
- Bachelor
Year of study
- Fall 2024
Semester when the course unit is delivered
- 5
Number of ECTS credits allocated
- 5.0
Name of lecturer(s)
- Stern Lena, MSc
- Gratzer Hannah, MSc
Learning outcomes of the course unit
- -Systemic understanding of sustainability: understanding of the interconnectedness of environmental, social and economic systems using a systemic thinking approach
-Self-responsibility: heightened awareness of responsibilities and a pro-active mindset for addressing sustainability challenges
-Leadership: emphasize holistic views of future challenges and ensure inclusivity
-Communication: navigate in polarizing discussions; empathy and active listening to facilitate constructive dialogues
-Implementation: practical knowledge of best practices in political, business, and personal contexts
Recommended optional program components
- none
Course contents
- Foundations of sustainability (definition, historical context, concepts of sustainability, responsibilities)
Deep Dive:
Environmental sustainability (biodiversity, climate change and resources)
Social sustainability (equity and social justice, education, health, diversity and inclusion)
Economic sustainability (sustainable and responsible business models e.g. circular economy, doughnut economy, degrowth)
Personal responsibility in sustainability (personal sustainability practices, communication, argumentation, confidence)
Recommended or required reading
- Brzoska, M., & Fröhlich, C. (2016). Climate change, migration and violent conflict:
vulnerabilities, pathways and adaptation strategies. Migration and Development, 5(2), 190-
210. (21 p.)
Dunlap, R. E. (2013). Climate change skepticism and denial: An introduction. American
behavioral scientist, 57(6), 691-698. (8 p.)
Scoones, I. 2016. The Politics of Sustainability and Development. Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour. 2016. 41:293-319
Bakker K. 2010. The limits of "neoliberal natures": debating green neoliberalism. Prog. Hum. Geogr.34(6):715-35
Gunderson, R, Stuart, D & Petersen , B. 2019. The Political Economy of Geoengineering as Plan B: Technological Rationality, Moral Hazard, and New Technology, New Political Economy, 24:5, 696-715, DOI: 10.1080/13563467.2018.1501356.
Oreskes, N. (2018). The scientific consensus on climate change: How do we know we're not
wrong? Climate Modelling (pp. 31-64): Springer. (36 p.)Higher Ground - Alison Taylor
Human kind - Rutger Bregman
Less is more - Jason Hickel
Utopia for realists - Rutger Bregman
What we owe the future - William MacAskill
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
- The course comprises an interactive mix of lectures, discussions and individual and group work.
Language of instruction
- English
Work placement(s)
- none