Universität Wien

290016 SE Bachelorseminar aus Humangeographie (2021W)

Habitability. Linking Population Distribution and Environmental Change

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 29 - Geographie
Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung
GEMISCHT

In Englisch

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Details

max. 25 Teilnehmer*innen
Sprache: Englisch

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert

From the 14.10, the sessions will be held online at least until the 18.11.2021. It will be discussed during the semester the possibility of organising the last sessions of the course in January partly in the classroom, partly through distance learning.

  • Donnerstag 07.10. 09:00 - 11:45 Seminarraum 2A310 3.OG UZA II
  • Donnerstag 14.10. 09:00 - 10:30 Seminarraum 2A310 3.OG UZA II
  • Donnerstag 21.10. 09:00 - 11:45 Seminarraum 2A310 3.OG UZA II
  • Donnerstag 04.11. 09:00 - 11:45 Seminarraum 2A310 3.OG UZA II
  • Donnerstag 11.11. 09:00 - 11:45 Seminarraum 2A310 3.OG UZA II
  • Donnerstag 18.11. 09:00 - 11:45 Seminarraum 2A310 3.OG UZA II
  • Donnerstag 13.01. 09:00 - 11:45 Seminarraum 2A310 3.OG UZA II
  • Donnerstag 20.01. 09:00 - 11:45 Seminarraum 2A310 3.OG UZA II
  • Donnerstag 27.01. 09:00 - 11:45 Seminarraum 2A310 3.OG UZA II

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

Assessments of the impacts of climate change are often rooted in a deterministic and modern Malthusian perspective, which overlooks social determinants of changes at different levels. It is assumed that social transformations, such as migration or conflicts, are unavoidable by-products of climate change. It is therefore frequently hypothesized that reaching certain climatic thresholds would lead to mass migration or widespread conflict and insecurity.
During the course, we will argue that the habitability of a given place is hardly objective and cannot be determined by analyses of climate parameters alone. Research on the climate-population nexus should take a systems-based approach, analyzing the effects of climate impacts on the system as a whole, including social, political, economic, environmental and demographic factors. Responses to environmental disruptions, including population movements, are strongly dependent upon individual and collective perceptions of changes and risks and other mitigating factors of these changes, such as the resilience of the socio-ecological system and the adaptive strategies and capacity of populations in situ.

This course will combine didactic lectures and hands-on sessions. The working methods used in the seminar will be fitting e-learning activities. International examples - mainly in the Global South - will be used. The nexus between population dynamics and climatic change will mainly be examined through the lens of migration studies.
At the end of the course, the students should be able to critically discuss the impacts of climate change on population distribution/dynamics and be familiar with the current state of knowledge of the field of climate change adaptation and environmental migration.

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

The working methods used in the seminar will include joint analyses and discussions of relevant academic materials, own research of scientific sources, presentation of research results, and the writing of a term paper. Cooperative methods of working will be used whenever adequate and possible.
The following requirements must be fulfilled in order to pass the course:
• active participation on moodle and regular submission of the portfolio
• Presentation + Q&A session (online when/if needed)
• writing of a short term paper

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

Attendance in at least 80% of the course sessions. In the case of illnesses that are confirmed by a doctor's note, additional absenteeism can be compensated by additional written assignments.

The presentation (35%) and term paper (45%) will be marked individually as well as portfolios & active participation on moodle (20%). Assignments have to be passed individually. An assignment is passed with a minimum grade of 4.
Grading scheme:
100 - 87,5 % - grade 1
87,5 - 75 % - grade 2
75 - 62,5 % - grade 3
62,5 - 50 % - grade 4
less than 50% - grade 5
An additional grading scheme for presentation and term papers can be downloaded from the Moodle platform and will be explained in the course.
A great motivation to research, read, present and discuss (in English) the most relevant issues dealing with population dynamics and climate change is sought.

Prüfungsstoff

The examination will encompass the work items as outlined in the course requirements.

Literatur

All texts for compulsory readings can be downloaded in the Moodle course. Additional literature research will be mandatory. For selected literature, see below:
Borderon, M., Sakdapolrak, P., Muttarak, R., Kebede, E., Pagogna, R., & Sporer, E. (2019). Migration influenced by environmental change in Africa: A systematic review of empirical evidence. Demographic Research, 41(18), 491-544. https://dx.doi.org/10.4054/DemRes.2019.41.18.
Foresight Migration and Global Environmental Change Future Challenges and Opportunities (2011). Final Report. The Government Office for Science. London. Available online: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/287717/11-1116migration-and-global-environmental-change.pdf.
Fritzsche, K., Schneiderbauer, S., Bubeck, P., Kienberger, S., Buth, M., Zebisch, M., & Kahlenborn, W. (2014). The Vulnerability Sourcebook: Concept and guidelines for standardised vulnerability assessments. Available online. https://www.adaptationcommunity.net/?wpfb_dl=203
IPCC (2014) Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland.
IPCC (2018). Report - Global warming of 1.5°C. ISBN 978-92-9169-151-7. Available online : https://report.ipcc.ch/sr15/pdf/sr15_spm_final.pdf.
Jacobson J.L. (1988). Environmental Refugees: a Yardstick of Habitability. Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, 8(3), 257–258. https://doi.org/10.1177/027046768800800304

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

(BA GG 7.1) (BA UF GW 16)

Letzte Änderung: Fr 01.04.2022 09:09