Duration
30h Th, 10h Pr
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course approaches the current biodiversity crisis not only as an ecological crisis, characterised by the decline of species, habitats and ecosystem functioning, but also as a crisis in the relationships between human societies and the living world.
It invites students to critically examine the ways in which Western societies have historically defined, categorised, exploited, protected and governed nature, as well as the alternatives that are emerging in response to contemporary ecological transformations.
The course therefore combines ecological knowledge, insights from the social sciences and humanities, and critical reflection to help students better understand the social, cultural, political and ethical dimensions of biodiversity issues.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Beyond specific knowledge relating to biodiversity and society-nature relationships, the course aims to develop students' ability to combine different disciplinary perspectives and levels of analysis.
Students will learn to distinguish between scientific facts, interpretations and normative positions; analyse controversies or conservation policies by identifying the actors involved, their representations and underlying power relations; compare different conceptions of nature without reducing them to simplistic oppositions; and contribute to collective reflection on possible transformations in the relationships between human societies and the living world.
The course ultimately aims to train professionals who are able to approach biodiversity issues not as exclusively technical problems, but as complex socio-ecological issues requiring the integration of scientific knowledge, an understanding of societies, and the capacity for dialogue.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course is based on an active learning approach combining theoretical input, case studies, collective discussions and collaborative learning methods.
The aim is not only for students to acquire knowledge, but also to learn to question their own categories of thought, engage with different perspectives, and progressively develop a more complex understanding of biodiversity issues.
Sessions therefore alternate between lectures, collective exercises, text analysis and participatory activities such as collaborative reading and the New Narratives Workshop.
This approach requires active student participation and a willingness to discuss the assumptions, values and representations associated with different ways of thinking about nature and its conservation.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
Attendance is strongly recommended, given the emphasis on debate and group work.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
d.denayer@uliege.be