Course Description

Two week interdisciplinary field school. Earth system science, ecoliteracy, ecofootprinting, sustainability indicators, geological/climatological rates compared to human timescales.

UBC Calendar

For a full listing of course offerings please see the UBC calendar description

Learning Goals

under development

Instructors

Instructional team:

Dr. Kurt Grimm is an associate professor in the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences at UBC, where he is exploring the interfaces of Earth system science, complexity theory, and deep ecology. I am developing a general theory of living systems that is applicable to personal, social and biophysical sustainability, and the question “Is Earth A Living System?” (http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2003AM/finalprogram/abstract_62123.htm)

Dr Neil Meikleham has a Ph.D. in chemistry (U. of Witwatersrand) and an M Sc in Holistic Science (Schumacher College). His research interests include integrating and applying holistic scientific thinking to a wide range of sustainability and restoration projects. He is currently studying the ecovillage model of sustainability in Auroville, India (http://www.livingroutes.org/).

Textbook

Course Readings:

1. Raskin, P. et al., 2000. Great Transition (available as a free download at www.tellus.org)

2. Merkel, J., 2003. Radical Simplicity: Small Footprints on A Finite Earth

3. A brief reader available from the instructors after admission to the course and payment of fees.

Course Content

TSAPOS 2008: THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF SUSTAINABILITY

A Transdisciplinary Field Course offered thru UBC Earth & Ocean Sciences
Friday August zx, at 6pm, until 4 pm on Saturday August zx,
on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia.

Three undergrad credits as EOSC 217;

EOSC 448 or Grad credit (EOSC 595) may be arranged under some circumstances

ENROLLMENT IS LIMITED TO 22 UBC STUDENTS.

Past offerings of TSAPOS have drawn participants from across the natural sciences, applied sciences, social sciences, humanities, fine arts and beyond. Collaborative learning is central to our course. Students from Sciences and Applied Sciences will employ and advance their scientific skills. Non-science students will implement their skills and advance their own scientific literacy.

For Information and an Application contact Dr. Kurt Grimm, UBC Earth & Ocean Sciences, kgrimm@eos.ubc.ca (Subject Line: TSAPOS 2006 ) or by phone: 604-822-9258

Total Course costs: $450. paid to Teresa Woodley in UBC Earth & Ocean Sciences; all applications must include a $100. deposit or payment in full. These fees are fully refundable up until mid May. In addition, tuition fees (3 credits) must be paid directly to the UBC Registrar. The course is all-inclusive.

Students arrange for their own transportation to and from Roberts Creek (we have logistical suggestions); course fees will keep participants sheltered, fed, transported and fully engaged for the duration of the course.

Logistical details including a course reader and equipment list will be distributed to successful applicants. Interested participants must submit an application (available from the lead instructor (Kurt Grimm, kgrimm@eos.ubc.ca) or Teresa Woodley (twoodley@eos.ubc.ca) and a $100. deposit.

More information:

Achieving sustainability is a complex interdisciplinary challenge that must reconcile growing consumptive demands and swelling human population with biophysical, societal and personal limits. These complex, omnipresent problems demand transdisciplinary exploration, integrated understanding and coordinated action.

To further these aims, and the advancement of the sustainability imperatie at UBC and beyond, UBC students, their instructors and a wide assortment of affiliated colleagues will experience and create together The Science and Practice of Sustainability (TSAPOS) 2007. This field-based course is focused upon understanding and advancing multifaceted sustainability through student-directed experiential learning and community service projects.

The course is listed through the UBC Department of Earth & Ocean Sciences, however the course targets far beyond the faculty of science or “science students”. In fact, participants in past TSAPOS courses came from diverse backgrounds, including AgSci, English, Env. Science, Forestry, Fine Arts, Geography, SCARP, ENVR, ISCI, Earth & Ocean Sciences and beyond.

Lecture Topics

Course activities will occur on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, a 35 minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in North Vancouver. We will spend most of our nights in tents, camped in “rustic comfort” near Roberts Creek.

Our major learning activities will include the following:

1. Experimentation in skillful sustainable lifestyles, including ecological footprinting, process decision making and development of a personal sustainability portfolio.
2. Earth Literacy and Place-Based Earth System Science: Science-based Principles Uniting Life, Climate & Sustainability
3. Holistic Science and Transformation: Insights from Goethian Science
4. Community Living— Cohousing, Ecovillages and the TSAPOS experience
5. Community service learning (CSL), where student learnings and skills are implemented towards advancing sustainability-related initiatives on the Sunshine Coast.

Guiding principles for these student-directed group projects arise from three questions: Who is the community we want to serve? What is their stated need? How can we help them meet that need? Additional context for these CSL projects will be explored during the course.

Labs

Major Course activities:

Earth Literacy, Community Living and Sustainability Foundations through facilitated and independent explorations and community service learning on the Sunshine Coast of BC. Have fun and a great learning adventure through collaborative learning while advancing the process of sustainability!

Key Aspects: Transdisciplinary // Academically Rigorous // Bioregional Focus // Participatory and student-directed, experiential education // Community Service Learning

Prerequisites for Admission: UBC Student. Second year standing. Selection into course based on course application (available from kgrimm@eos.ubc.ca; subject line TSAPOS 2006)

Goals and Learning Outcomes: Advancing Biophysical, Societal and Lifestyle Sustainability