ENSb1321 More-than-human approaches in environmental geography

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Petr Gibas, MSc, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Karel Stibral, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Kateřina Hendrychová
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 8:00–9:40 U44
Prerequisites (in Czech)
TYP_STUDIA(B)
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: 5/20, 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
Course objectives
More-than-human approaches to research allow us to capture the interactions between different (animal, plant, etc.) species and processes that condition the functioning of the world as a place for life. Environmental geography focuses on the interactions and relationships between the biogeophysical environment and human communities. Research that emphasizes the more-than-human aspects of environmental and social functioning is therefore an ideal means of uncovering processes that are not obvious and are difficult to detect by other means, and that often have a profound effect on the environment and the possibilities for human and more-than-human life within it. The two main objectives of the course are: 1) To become familiar with key concepts inspired by or directly derived from more-than-human studies that are used in contemporary (environmental) geography and related fields (e.g. space, place, landscape; network; agency; assemblage; entanglement; (emergent) ecology; meshwork; metabolism). 2) To master the concepts of multiple-non-human studies to the extent that they become part of methodological procedures applicable to research on specific issues and problems in the field of environmental studies. In addition, the course aims to develop the ability to read professional text (both in CJ and AJ), and to distinguish and articulate ideas adopted and one's own within a professional argument.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, learners will be able to:
1) Orient themselves to the complex concepts of multi-human studies;
2) Explain selected concepts in the context of their disciplinary anchorage;
3) Identify areas in which it is methodologically supportable to apply these approaches;
4) Include a more-than-human studies perspective in critical thinking about the object of study;
5) To lead a scholarly discussion of complex concepts in relation to specific objects of study.
Teaching methods
The course is taught as a combination of a lecture and a seminar, thus combining frontal teaching and interactive approaches. As part of the lecture, learners will be introduced to individual concepts along with their historical development and context, as many of the concepts discussed come from various fields of humanities and social science research. Learners will also be introduced to specific case studies and research that use the concepts with varying degrees of success. The seminar takes the form of a moderated group discussion based on readings of assigned texts. A designated group of learners prepares questions on the text for the others - active participation in the discussion is a condition for successful completion of the course.
Assessment methods
To pass the course, you must meet the following requirements: active class participation: 50%, group discussion questions once a semester: 20%, and a final test: 30%. A minimum of 70% class participation is required for successful completion of the course. Active participation, which is graded, is defined as regular participation in the seminar discussions conditioned by the readings. Questions for group discussion are generated in the working groups established during the first hour of the course. In a given week, the group will briefly introduce the assigned text and present at least three questions related to it. The final test takes the form of a written test written on the spot. It consists of answering the three questions discussed in the course related to the texts read.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
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