Entry requirements

60 credits.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• account for how climate variations have affected different humans and environments;
• critically discuss climate and sustainability challenges in a global and local context;
• critically discuss how artistic expressions and scientific knowledge interact in the communication of climate change in public space;
• organise interactive activities with focus on climate, history, science, art in a public space.

Content

The course focuses on how climate has shaped societies throughout history and how we can understand and re-evaluate established interpretations regarding societal adaptations and transitions in an era of accelerating climate change. The first part of the course establishes an environmental historical understanding of how climate variations and abrupt climate changes have affected human cultures, societies, and the surrounding environment. Furthermore, it highlights how different local circumstances and social structures have facilitated or hindered adaptation to new living conditions. Based on this historical understanding of humans, environment, and climate, more contemporary sustainability and climate challenges are then addressed in a more comprehensive global context as well as in various local contexts. The course introduces various methods for communicating climate and sustainability through artistic and scientific expressions. The course is interdisciplinary and offers students an opportunity to explore how science, art, climate, and environmental history can be interconnected and give rise to new dialogues in the public sphere.

Instruction

The course consists of lectures, seminars, and workshops. Lectures will be given by guest lecturers from various academic disciplines and other relevant societal sectors. There will be ample opportunity for active student participation and critical reflection. Non-mandatory study visits may occur.

Assessment

The student is examined through written preparation for and active participation in seminars and workshops (2 credits), and through written documentation and oral presentation of a project (3 credits).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other regulations

Active participation is reassessed through a re-seminar. If a student after having been offered a re-seminar still does not meet the requirements to pass the active participation elements the examiner can choose reassessment by another method.