ENV001 Environmentalism now

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2011
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 3 credit(s) (fasci plus compl plus > 4). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium), z (credit).
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Mgr. Michal Bittner, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Ivan Holoubek, CSc.
RECETOX – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: RNDr. Mgr. Michal Bittner, Ph.D.
Timetable
Mon 13:00–16:50 409-stara KAM1
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 45 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/45, only registered: 0/45, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/45
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
- defend the meaning and importance of environmentalism in present world
- explain how the progression of environmental issues corresponds with apparently unrelated disciplines such as economy, technology ethics ets.
- propose possible solutions of contemporary environmental issues in various levels - from personal to international level
- analyse pros and cons of possible solutions
- assess contemporary aproaches to solving the national and international environmental issues
- interpret and debate results of up to now succesfull and unsuccesfull solutions of environmental issues
Syllabus
  • Environmental issues in Czech Rep. and world.
  • Roots of environmental crisis
  • Ecological determination of human-environment relationship.
  • Environmental consequences of food and energy production.
  • Relation of ecology and environmentalism - historical overview
  • Environmental ethics.
  • Environmental economy.
  • Sustainable development concept.
  • Technological solutions of environmental crisis and their limitations.
  • Environmental legislation and policy.
  • Solutions of environmental crisis based on personal values.
Literature
    required literature
  • Bittner, Michal. Úvod do environmentalistiky. Vysoké učení technické v Brně, 2010, 125 s. ISBN 978-80-214-4063-0
  • Cenia. Životní prostředí v ČR 1989-2004, Praha, MŽP ČR, 2005, http://www.cenia.cz/web/www/web-pub2.nsf/$pid/CENMSFP6KHRR
    recommended literature
  • World Watch Institute (2008). Vital signs 2008
  • World Watch Institute (2008). State of the world 2008
  • BINKA, Bohuslav. Environmentální etika. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2008, 157 s. ISBN 9788021045941. info
  • DIAMOND, Jared M. Kolaps : proč společnosti zanikají a přežívají. Translated by Zdeněk Urban. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2008, 751 s. ISBN 9788020015891. info
  • HOMER-DIXON, Thomas F. The upside of down : catastrophe, creativity and the renewal of civilisation. London: Souvenir Press, 2007, ix, 429. ISBN 9780285637948. info
  • JOHANISOVÁ, Naděžda. Kde peníze jsou služebníkem, nikoliv pánem. Sedmá generace. Brno, 2005, No 2, p. 18-21. info
  • MEADOWS, Donella H. and Dennis L. MEADOWS. Limits to growth : the 30-year update. Edited by Jørgen Randers. London: Earthscan, 2005, xxii, 338. ISBN 1844071448. info
  • LIBROVÁ, Hana. Vlažní a váhaví (Kapitoly o ekologickém luxusu) (The Half-hearted and the Hesitant: Chapters on Ecological Luxury). 1st ed. Brno: Doplněk, 2003, 320 pp. Společensko-ekologická edice, svazek 8. ISBN 8072391496. info
  • FROMM, Erich. Mít, nebo být? Translated by Jan Lusk. Vyd. 1. Praha: Aurora, 2001, 242 s. ISBN 80-7299-036-5. info
  • KOHÁK, Erazim. Zelená svatozář : kapitoly z ekologické etiky. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 1998, 203 s. ISBN 80-85850-63-X. info
  • SCHWEITZER, Albert. Albert Schweitzer - zastánce kritického myšlení a úcty k životu. Edited by Otakar Antoň Funda - Petr Pokorný, Translated by Jaroslav Kohout. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vyšehrad, 1989, 308 s. ISBN 8070210109. URL info
  • CARSON, Rachel. Silent spring. Greenwich: Fawcett Crest Book, 1962, x, 304. info
Teaching methods
Education is performed as lectures with Powerpoint prezentation. During semester, students work in groups of 1-5 on chosen environmental topic that is finaly presented at the end of course. Part of the education is also scientific tour to "eco-village" Hostětín. Understanding of consequences is emphasized. Students are frequently asked to think about actual topic. They are encouraged to ask questions and be in interaction with the lecturer.
Assessment methods
Attendance of the lectures is not mandatory but strongly recommended for fluent understanding of the educated subjects. For this reason, attendance is classificated on points. Another portion of points students get for the presentation of their projects. Final assesment (at the end of semester) is by written examination. It is combination of multiple choice test and questions, which frequently require description, explanation or schematization of asked topic. Questions have 1 point. Total count is 100 (including points from attendance and student's project) and to pass at least 50 points are needed.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2011, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2011/ENV001