ENSb1307 Flourishing within limits to growth

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Brian D. Fath, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Karel Stibral, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Klára Dubinová
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 18. 2. 14:00–16:40 U53, Wed 25. 2. 14:00–16:40 bude_upresneno, Wed 4. 3. 14:00–16:40 bude_upresneno, Wed 18. 3. 14:00–16:40 M117, Wed 1. 4. 14:00–16:40 bude_upresneno, Wed 8. 4. 14:00–16:40 bude_upresneno
Prerequisites
TYP_STUDIA(B)
None
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 8/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 14 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Abstract
Course Goals:
1. To provide students with a basic understanding of the environment as a system including the biological, physical, and chemical foundations of ecosystem services
2. To understand how nature provides resources and constraints to socio-economic development and to students’ everyday life.
3. To learn how human activities impact and interfere with this ecological functioning
4. To explore how human activities could promote sustainable, win-win, flourishing outcomes within these limits
Learning outcomes
Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to:
1. Gather and analyze evidence from a variety of sources pertinent to the issue under study.
2. Communicate arguments and conclusions effectively and clearly.
3. Use quantitative reasoning to analyze and/or support scientific information.
4. Know the historical development and the structural nature of a specific scientific discipline.
5. Explain scientific issues of importance to society within scientific, technological, societal and ethical contexts.
Key topics
  • ourse Outline: Arranged in 4- 1.5 hour blocks; specific readings (in bold) from Encyclopedia of Ecology, Fath and Jørgensen (eds). 2018. Elsevier.
  • Topic 1: Systems thinking: Where it comes from and where it goes
  • Ecological Systems Thinking: D W Orr
  • Human Ecology: Overview: F Steiner
  • Topic 2: Natural ecosystems, ecological succession, ecosystem services
  • Ecosystem Services: K A Brauman and G C Daily
  • Flourishing within limits: Jørgensen et al. 2015 Chapter 3
  • Topic 3: Limits to growth
  • Limits to Growth: B D Fath
  • Ecological Footprint: M Wackernagel and J Kitzes
  • Exercises relating to ecological footprint and sustainability
  • Topic 4: Flourishing within limits
  • Flourishing within limits: Jørgensen et al. 2015 Chapter 4
Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • JØRGENSEN, Sven Erik. Flourishing Within Limits to Growth: Following Nature's Way. Routledge, 2015. info
  • Encyclopedia of ecology. Edited by Sven Erik Jørgensen - Brian D. Fath. 1st ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2008, xxxiv, 819. ISBN 9780444520333. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
lectures, class discussion
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Active participation in class, final written exam
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Information on the per-term frequency of the course: nepravidelně.
Teacher's information
Brian D. Fath Fulbright Distinguished Chair Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, USA
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Spring 2024, Autumn 2024, Autumn 2026.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2026/ENSb1307