AANB05082U Anthropology and the Environment

Volume 2013/2014
Content

Natural resources constitute the basis of human livelihood and the relations between humans and their environment has consequently been a focal point of anthropological studies since the birth of the discipline. Anthropology makes a significant contribution to showing how social and natural history are deeply infiltrated with each other. Through empirical examples and theoretical considerations, it questions the classical dichotomy between nature and culture and shows that it is impossible to think ’society’ without at the same time taking its natural surroundings and resources into account. Conversely, it seems no longer possible to single out ‘nature’ as something beyond social life. With the announcement of the Anthropocene, the imprint of human life upon the planet is acknowledged also in the natural sciences. This course will introduce the students to some of the most fundamental concepts found in environmental anthropology. A small fieldwork will give students the possibility to apply these concepts to understand a concrete environmental problem.

Learning Outcome

At the end of this course, the students will be able to:

  • Identify and formulate central anthropological questions with regard to the anthropology of the environment.
  • Plan and conduct a short fieldwork in groups.
  • Present the empirical material and identify relevant analytical perspectives
BSc-, Credit-, Open Education and all international students: 500 pages obligatory literature.
MSc students: 500 pages obligatory literature + 200 pages of literature chosen by students.

The course literature will consist of an Absalon compendium + self-chosen literature.

Mix of 4 weeks normal teaching (4 weeks with 2X2 hours teaching per week) and of a small fieldwork (3 days) in Denmark on one of the four environmental topics:
- The management of Skjern Å water catchment (Vest Jytland)
- Bornholms’s ambition to become a green island (Bornholm)
- Storm water management in Copenhagen municipality (Copenhagen)
- Reducing energy consumption in the four students colleges (Copenhagen)

The students will be divided into 4 groups, each group dealing with one topic. Each group will receive supervision and one tutorial in which the students will discuss their analytical approach and choice of literature.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam Preparation
  • 15
  • Field Work
  • 25
  • Lectures
  • 16
  • Practical exercises
  • 35
  • Preparation
  • 104
  • Project work
  • 15
  • Total
  • 210
Credit
10 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
The examination will be based on a portfolio containing the following elements:

1) A short academic essay (3 pages) discussing at least two of the texts read during the course. This essay will be written on the fourth week (at the end of the normal teaching)

2) A synopsis describing the research plan of the students and including the relevant literature. This will be handed in at the end of the fifth week

3) A short fieldwork in the sixth week, at the end of which the students will submit a fieldreport. The fieldreport will contain a short introduction of the research subject (1 page), a presentation of the most important findings (1 page), and the empirical material (5-10 pages), for example as field notes from participant observation, or extracts from interviews

4) A poster presenting the main results of the research. The poster will be presented in the Ethnographic Exploratory room.
Exam registration requirements
The student must participate actively in class, through for example class presentations, in order to be eligible to take the course exam. The course lecturer stipulates the specific requirements for active class participation.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
There is appointed a second internal assessor to assist with the assessment when the first assessor finds this necessary.
Criteria for exam assesment
See description of aims
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
The examination will be based on a portfolio containing the following elements:

1) A short academic essay (3 pages) discussing at least two of the texts read during the course. This essay will be written on the fourth week (at the end of the normal teaching)

2) A synopsis describing the research plan of the students and including the relevant literature. This will be handed in at the end of the fifth week

3) A short fieldwork in the sixth week, at the end of which the students will submit a fieldreport. The fieldreport will contain a short introduction of the research subject (1 page), a presentation of the most important findings (1 page), and the empirical material (5-10 pages), for example as field notes from participant observation, or extracts from interviews

4) A poster presenting the main results of the research. The poster will be presented in the Ethnographic Exploratory room.
Exam registration requirements
The student must participate actively in class, through for example class presentations, in order to be eligible to take the course exam. The course lecturer stipulates the specific requirements for active class participation.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
There is appointed a second internal assessor to assist with the assessment when the first assessor finds this necessary.
Criteria for exam assesment
See description of aims