ENSb1307 Flourishing within limits to growth

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Brian D. Fath, 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
Thu 29. 2. 12:00–15:40 bude_upresneno, Thu 7. 3. 12:00–15:40 bude_upresneno, Thu 14. 3. 12:00–15:40 bude_upresneno, Thu 21. 3. 12:00–15:40 U43, Thu 28. 3. 12:00–15:40 bude_upresneno, Thu 4. 4. 12:00–15:40 bude_upresneno
Prerequisites
TYP_STUDIA(B)
None
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 33 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 10/33, only registered: 0/33, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/33
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Course Goals:
1. To provide students with a basic understanding of the environment as a system including the biological, physical, and chemical foundations of ecosystem services
2. To understand how nature provides resources and constraints to socio-economic development and to students’ everyday life.
3. To learn how human activities impact and interfere with this ecological functioning
4. To explore how human activities could promote sustainable, win-win, flourishing outcomes within these limits
Learning outcomes
Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to:
1. Gather and analyze evidence from a variety of sources pertinent to the issue under study.
2. Communicate arguments and conclusions effectively and clearly.
3. Use quantitative reasoning to analyze and/or support scientific information.
4. Know the historical development and the structural nature of a specific scientific discipline.
5. Explain scientific issues of importance to society within scientific, technological, societal and ethical contexts.
Syllabus
  • ourse Outline: Arranged in 4- 1.5 hour blocks; specific readings (in bold) from Encyclopedia of Ecology, Fath and Jørgensen (eds). 2018. Elsevier.
  • Topic 1: Systems thinking: Where it comes from and where it goes
  • Ecological Systems Thinking: D W Orr
  • Human Ecology: Overview: F Steiner
  • Topic 2: Natural ecosystems, ecological succession, ecosystem services
  • Ecosystem Services: K A Brauman and G C Daily
  • Flourishing within limits: Jørgensen et al. 2015 Chapter 3
  • Topic 3: Limits to growth
  • Limits to Growth: B D Fath
  • Ecological Footprint: M Wackernagel and J Kitzes
  • Exercises relating to ecological footprint and sustainability
  • Topic 4: Flourishing within limits
  • Flourishing within limits: Jørgensen et al. 2015 Chapter 4
Literature
    required literature
  • JØRGENSEN, Sven Erik. Flourishing Within Limits to Growth: Following Nature's Way. Routledge, 2015. info
  • Encyclopedia of ecology. Edited by Sven Erik Jørgensen - Brian D. Fath. 1st ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2008, xxxiv, 819. ISBN 9780444520333. info
Teaching methods
lectures, class discussion
Assessment methods
Active participation in class, final written exam
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: Výuka bude probíhat blokově.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Minimum: 15 students
Teacher's information
Brian D. Fath Fulbright Distinguished Chair Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, USA
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2024, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2024/ENSb1307