2019-2020 / GEOG0055-1

Environmental geography

Duration

24h Th, 12h Pr, 6d FW

Number of credits

 Bachelor in geography : general5 crédits 

Lecturer

Pierre Ozer, Serge Schmitz

Coordinator

Serge Schmitz

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

All year long, with partial in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course questions man's relationship to nature, most of the time using a critical approach to the social and political construction of nature. It emphasizes a holistic view of relationships with nature that combines natural sciences, social sciences and geographic approach.
The six chapters discuss principles of adaptation and precaution, exploitation of natural resources, natural risks management, cultural construction of biodiversity, desertification, relationship to technology and nesting of spatial scales.  
A week of fieldwork will allow participants to understand the complexity of human environment relations within a Mediterranean geosystem.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

  • Identify environmental issues of a situation or a space
  • Pay attention to the political nature of positions concerning environmental issues
  • Develop a multiscalar approach to environmental issues
  • Discuss and elaborate argument in Environmental approaches
  • Write Recommendations

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

English B2

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Flipped classroom based on readings and discussion animated by the students
Fieldwork to implement analysis tools

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Individual preparation, presential classes and fieldwork

Recommended or required readings

Castree N, Demeritt D., Liverman D., Rhoads B., 2009. A Companion to Environmental Geography, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 588 p.
Castree N., Hulme M., Proctor J.D., 2018. Companion to Environmental Studies, Routlege Textbook, 848 p.

Assessment methods and criteria

The evaluation is based on the three main activities of the course:

  • 30% for the preparations and the participation during the six classes;
  • 30% for the participation during the fieldwork, including the writing of collective reports;
  • 40% for an oral examination.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

Prof. serge SCHMITZ, S.Schmitz@uliege.be
Prof. Pierre OZER, pozer@uliege.be

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session

Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning

LiveSize meetings
Video podcast realized by students
Posponement of fieldtrip in 2021

Assessment subjects

The chapters submitted to students and their discussion during the course.

Assessment methods

Essay (2000 words/3 hours) on an issue relating to environmental geography, which properly includes concepts analysed during the course. (50%)
Assessment of the oral presentations and videos (50%)

Contacts

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session

Assessment subjects

Assessment methods

Contacts