240531 SE MM3 Permafrost, ice and snow: Anthropology and the (melting) cryosphere (2025S)

This Master’s-level course explores the cryosphere — the frozen components of the Earth system, including glaciers, permafrost, sea ice, and snow — from an anthropological perspective. As the cryosphere undergoes rapid transformation due to climate change, its social, cultural, and environmental implications demand urgent attention. In this course, we will read and discuss ethnographic studies and critically engage with theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches to analyze the ways humans perceive, interact with, and respond to a changing cryosphere.

Through a mix of readings, lectures, discussions, and participatory activities, the course examines core topics such as: the environmental anthropology of the cryosphere, community-based and participatory approaches, interdisciplinary collaborations, perception studies, and critical perspectives on climate justice and decolonial approaches. Key texts and case studies will anchor the discussions, while students will have opportunities to shape the course content by introducing topics or readings of their interest. Students are expected to read one text per double class (= six in total) as well as one text that they will present to the class. Some texts will be provided, while others can be selected by the students.

By the end of this course, students will:
- Understand what the cryosphere is, how it is changing, and evaluate the social, cultural, and ethical implications of these transformations.
- Understand the cryosphere’s significance within the broader context of environmental anthropology and climate change.
- Critically analyze anthropological theories and methods to studying glaciers, permafrost, sea ice, and snow.
- Develop a nuanced understanding of decolonial approaches and climate justice in relation to the cryosphere.