737019 Frontiers in social ecology and sustainability transformations

Type
Lecture
Semester hours
2
Lecturer (assistant)
Erb, Karlheinz
Organisation
Offered in
Wintersemester 2023/24
Languages of instruction
Englisch
Content

The world faces critical challenges, from climate change to the overuse of natural resources and the loss of natural habitats. However, these crises are closely linked to socio-economic dynamics and crisis tendencies. Thus, societies will need to undergo significant transformations to become more sustainable. Leading these transformations requires understanding nature-society interactions and innovative ideas to apply scientific knowledge. This lecture series, offered by Karlheinz Erb and young scholars, will reveal cutting-edge research from the field of social ecology and provide reflections and solutions on how this knowledge can contribute to a more sustainable society.
The series touches on several of the most pressing sustainability problems, from transforming global resource and land use, bioeconomy strategies, conflicts on water and land, the role of family farming in the social-ecological crisis, circular agri-food systems, and energy transitions in the global south to local forest use in Austria. It will also introduce students to interdisciplinary methods, socio-ecological accounting and modeling approaches, and critical social science perspectives.
Previous knowledge expected

A finished bachelor’s degree. This is a course on Master level. It might be helpful to have taken the introductory course on Social Ecology, but this is not required.
Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)

Students will acquire a better understanding of the complex relations between societies and their natural environments. Several approaches on how to analyze these relations will be introduced and discussed. Paths forging a transformation towards a sustainable society would be scrutinized.
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.