Syllabus EAS 593: Human Dimensions of Global Change ...

SyllabusEAS 593: Human Dimensions of Global ChangeDepartment of Earth and Atmospheric SciencesUniversity of AlbertaTime: Fridays, 1:00-3:50Dates: January 11- April 11Instructor: Dr. Lia Ruttanlmruttan@shaw.caOffice Hours:Course DescriptionThis course reviews historical and current factors that influence the human dimensions ofglobal change. Emphasized are changes occurring as a result of human use of resourcesand the consequent impacts on local and global environments. The course looks at issuesof environmental governance and uses a framework of linked social and ecologicaldynamics to review the role of social institutions in modifying, regulating and/orenhancing environmental interaction at a variety of scales. The interaction of resource,technological, socio-cultural, political, and economic factors within environment will beexplored and theoretical models critiqued. Alternative frameworks for assessing,mitigating, and adapting to global environmental change are reviewed. The course willrely on a mixture of lectures, discussion, guest speakers, case study, and student presentation.Course objectivesStudents will:1. Be introduced to the history of and current status of a range of biophysical,anthropogenic, economic and sociopolitical factors as they affect worldenvironment.2. Be introduced to how philosophical views and assumptions common in Westernsociety have affected our responses and views regarding these changes.3. Develop an understanding of how issues of environmental governance affectinstitutional change in natural resource contexts including the exploration ofcommon pool resource norms, innovation, institutional change and socio-politicalfactors.4. Develop an understanding of the how institutions, technology, resources andculture interact to produce patterns of response in regards to thehuman dimensions of global change.

5. Explore processes associated with assessing linked social and ecological changeincluding adaptation, adaptive management, resilience, and vulnerability in thecontext of response.6. Be introduced to how ethical factors, risk, and equity may affect the distributionof the impacts of global change.7. Have an opportunity to explore a more specific issue through the completion of amajor research paper.8. Explore the theoretical and methodological approaches presented in the course inlight of a particular case study – that of industrial development in northernAlbertaGrading: Take home Midterm 30%Paper 35%Presentation (on paper topic) 10%Case study response 10%Participation 10%Brief assignment 05%Graduate students enrolled in EAS 593 will attend and participate in the same classsessions as the fourth year students enrolled in EAS 493. Graduate students will meetwith the instructor to discuss additional expectations. They will include a longer andmore in-depth paper, preparation for leading a discussion of one of the assigned readingsfor the class, and a more extensive presentation on their research paper. Grading willreflect their graduate status.Note: Final grades at the end of the course will be assigned using a combination of absoluteachievement and relative standing in the course and will remain unofficial until approved bythe Faculty Council or its designate (i.e. the Departmental Chair).Students with Special NeedsSpecialized Support and Disability Services (SSDS) provides assistance to Universitystudents whose disabilities involve any number of conditions affecting mobility, vision,hearing, learning or mental or physical health. Students who require accommodations inthis course due to a disability affecting mobility, vision, hearing, learning, or mental orphysical health are encouraged to discuss their needs with Specialized Support andDisability Services (2-800 Students' Union Building).Academic Honesty“The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrityand honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regardingacademic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students

are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code ofStudent Behaviour (online at www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid anybehaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism,misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is aserious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.”(University of Alberta Academic Calendar 2006/7)Policy about course outlines can be found in 23.4 (2) of the University Calendar.Student Expectations and Classroom EthicsRegular attendance, participation and respectful debate are a must. It is important thatstudents come to class prepared to engage in class activities including being ready to discussassigned reading materials. Please arrive before the start of class. There is a strongcorrelation between student attendance and student academic performance. For thisreason, plan on attending all lectures. To facilitate open discussion in class it is importantto remain tolerant of other viewpoints, open-minded, and respectful of others.Course MaterialsThere is no specific text book for this course. Most of the readings for this course areavailable for purchase as a course packet form the University Bookstore. Additional readingsmay be handed out in class and will also be considered required reading unless otherwiseindicated by the instructor. Students are expected to have completed assigned readingsprior to class.Course Schedule and TopicsJanuary 11,1:00 - 3:50Jan18January 25February 1Course OverviewBrief Introduction to Human DimensionsWhere are we at today.Critical thinking processesHistorical perspectives on global changeCoevolution -environment /humanbehaviorPhilosophical/ Mental models onenvironmentEnvironmental governanceInstitutions and normsCommon propertyInnovation -culture, resources,technology, and institutionsAdaptive ManagementSocial and ecological linkagesResilience ModelsReadings:VitousekMcNeil,GlaserDalby,Ostrom,Agrawal & LemosFazy,Hollings,Olsson, Folke & Berkes

February 8February15February22February29March 7March 14March 21March 28April 4April 11Issues of scale and crisisDevelopment issues- global and localProduction issuesInnovationRegulation and environmentalGovernanceStrategies of responseEthical issuesIssues of Equity, Environmental justice,security and safetyVulnerabilityReading WeekRisk Issues&Intro to Case studyCase studyNorthern Alberta development-forestry,oil and gas, pipelines, watersLocal/global connections in NorthernAlbertaTEK, Treaty Rights and developmentSocial impactsInstitutions, Actors, ProcessesPlanningCase Study ContinuedGood FridayStudent PresentationsStudent PresentationsApril 11- Global Change –Film FestivalRoomeBennett and BalveraAdger,Armstrong,MartinParkins & MacKendrick,JardineErmine,Westman,Schindler,Lertzman and Vredenberg

12. Olsson, P., Folke, C., and Berkes, F. (2004). Adaptive comanagement for buildingresilience in social-ecological systems. Environmental Management. Vol. 34(1). 75-90.13. Ostrom, E. (2000). Collective Action and the evolution of social norms. Journal ofEconomic Perspectives.Vol. 14(3). 137-158.14. Parkins, J. R. and MacKendrick, N.A. (2007). Assessing community vulnerability: Astudy of the mountain pine beetle outbreak in British Columbia, Canada. GlobalEnvironmental Change. Vol. 17. 460-471.15. Roome, N. (2004). Innovation, global change and new capitalism: A fuzzy context forbusiness and the environment. Human Ecology Review. Vol. 11(3). 277-279.16. Schindler, D.W. and W.F. Donahue. 2006. An impending water crisis in Canada’swestern prairie provinces. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103: 7210-7216.17. Vitousek, P.M., Mooney, H.A., Lubchenco, J. and Meillo, J.M. (1997). Humandomination of earth’s ecosystems. Science. Vol.277. 25 July. 494-499.18. Westman, C., (2006).Assessing the impacts of oilsands development on Indigenouspeoples in Alberta, Canada. Indigenous Affairs. Vol.2-3. 31-39.