ENSn4673 Framework for Sustainability

Fakulta sociálních studií
jaro 2025
Rozsah
0/0/0. 8 kr. Ukončení: zk.
Vyučující
Brian D. Fath, Ph.D. (přednášející)
Garance
doc. Mgr. Karel Stibral, Ph.D.
Katedra environmentálních studií – Fakulta sociálních studií
Kontaktní osoba: Mgr. Kateřina Hendrychová
Dodavatelské pracoviště: Katedra environmentálních studií – Fakulta sociálních studií
Předpoklady
TYP_STUDIA(N)
This course investigates the concept of sustainability from first principles of energetics and ecology applied to socio-economic systems. It deals with the ecological, physical, economic, social, and moral dimensions of sustainability.
Omezení zápisu do předmětu
Předmět je nabízen i studentům mimo mateřské obory.
Předmět si smí zapsat nejvýše 25 stud.
Momentální stav registrace a zápisu: zapsáno: 0/25, pouze zareg.: 0/25, pouze zareg. s předností (mateřské obory): 0/25
Mateřské obory/plány
předmět má 6 mateřských oborů, zobrazit
Cíle předmětu
1. To provide students with a basic understanding of sustainability and the sustainable development goals.
2. To provide pertinent information about ecosystem functioning and services and how they interact with human society.
3. To explore the concept of sustainability and how it relates to the students’ everyday life.
Výstupy z učení
Students will be able to:
1. Identify and understand the 17 SDGs and tradeoffs among them.
2. Learn a systems approach to interpreting socio-ecological processes and relationships
3. Know the difference between growth and development and the planetary boundary limitations
4. Explore new paradigms that move away from an objectivist mental model of the world as machine to an organic, life-driven perspective
Osnova
  • Arranged biweekly in 6 120-minute blocks. Each session will begin with a 30-minute overview and summary of the topic/reading, 30 minute exercise, and 60 minute discussion.
  • Students are expected to come to class prepared and ready to discuss with an open and curious mind.
  • 1. Sept 22, 2022:
  • a. Introduction to sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals. Exercise: students investigate one SDG in pairs, then look for overlaps and synergies
  • b. Ways of valuing the environment. Introduction of cultural theory and ecosystem services. Exercise: recognizing diversity of opinions, choose the opposite side in discussion
  • 2. Oct 6, 2022:
  • a. Limits to Growth, planetary boundaries, Flourishing overview. Exercise: identify ways we exceed limits, ways we are under limits
  • b. Foundations for Sustainability – Chapter 1 systems thinking and win-win. Exercise: systems thinking games, bathtub models
  • 3. Oct 20, 2022:
  • a. Foundations for Sustainability – Chapter 2 Ecologic metaphysics. Exercise: thinking outside the box: view of life from a bug’s perspective.
  • b. Foundations for Sustainability – Chapter 3 mutualism. Exercise: communicating science to the general public
  • 4. Nov 3, 2022:
  • a. Foundations for Sustainability – Chapter 4 origins of life. Exercise: follow the money (or other natural currency) through the system.
  • b. Foundations for Sustainability – Chapter 5 reforming reductionism. Exercise: casual loop diagrams and holism
  • 5. Nov 24, 2022:
  • a. Foundations for Sustainability – Chapter 6 – networks. Exercise: basic network models reveal synergism and mutualism
  • b. Foundations for Sustainability – Chapter 7 – Rosen. Exercise: applications in your daily lives and in the Moravian landscapes
  • 6. Dec 1, 2022:
  • a. Foundations for Sustainability – Chapter 8 – applications
  • b. Foundations for Sustainability – Chapter 9 –Sustainability for all;
  • c. Wrap up
Literatura
    povinná literatura
  • Fiscus DA and Fath BD. 2019. Foundations for Sustainability: Coherent framework for Life-Environment Relations. Elsevier.
  • https://is.muni.cz/el/fss/podzim2019/HEN670/um/2018_Fiscus-Fath_Sustainability.pdf?lang=en
Výukové metody
Course grade will be based on the combined total from paper, attendance, exercises, discussion, and exam. The final exam will be comprehensive, covering all class activities, discussions, lectures, and readings.
Metody hodnocení
Grade evaluation (points available): Paper 100 Exercises 50 Discussion 100 Final Exam 150 Total 400
Vyučovací jazyk
Angličtina
Další komentáře
Předmět je vyučován jednorázově.
Předmět je zařazen také v obdobích podzim 2022.