ECTS credits: 2 / 2,5

 

Course parameters:

Language: English

Level of course: PhD course

Time of year: Q4 2023,

No. of contact hours/hours in total incl. preparation, assignment(s) or the like: 15/70

Capacity limits: 18

 

Objectives of the course:

The purpose of this course is to introduce participants to some key theoretical approaches through which the socio-cultural dynamics of (and resistance towards) green transition can be understood and analysed. In particular, the course examines theories from the fields of environmental sociology, environmental communication, and environmental & sustainability education in order to provide analytical and conceptual frameworks for understanding the social practices, collective imaginaries, media interactions, behavioural changes, and learning processes that are – and inevitably must be – an integral part of any green transition.

 

Learning outcomes and competences:

During the course, participants will examines basic as well as applied research based on theories and conceptual/analytical frameworks of environmental sociology, environmental communication, and environmental & sustainability education. The students will ­– based on cases from ongoing research, literature and the students’ own PhD projects – discuss the philosophy of science, the field of application and the usefulness with respect to analyses of particular research areas and problems of the introduced theories and frameworks. In addition, the methodological challenges generated by including these theories in research are discussed.

In completing the course, each student will acquire the following competences:

• General knowledge of core social and cultural theories of green transition
• Ability to select and apply relevant theories in academic analysis of specific environmental research problems (with a social and cultural science perspective)
• Ability to discuss different relevant theories and their area of application within social and cultural science research
• Ability to synthesize theories of environmental sociology, environmental communication, and environmental & sustainability education and apply them in the investigation of specific issues, research problems and areas.

 

Compulsory programme:

To pass the course, all participants are expected to:

• Read course literature
• Participate actively in discussions during lectures and exercises
• Present the course perspective on their PhD project
• Submit a draft academic paper based on theoretical frameworks of the course literature used on their own PhD research.

 

Course contents:

To be further elaborated in direct communication with participants.

Theoretical perspectives include but are not necessarily limited to:

• Practice theory
• Actor-network theory
• Semiotics
• Social representations theory
• Media effects theory
• Nexus theory
• Transition theory/MLP
• Informal learning theories
• Education for Sustainable Development theories

 

Prerequisites:

The course is for PhD students. Participants must have some background in or experience with social science studies and/or media and communication studies and/or educational studies.

 

Name of lecturers:

- Senior scientist Lars Kjerulf Petersen

- Associate professor Anne Gammelgaard Ballantyne

- Associate professor Jonas Andreasen Lysgaard

- Professor Arjen Wals

- Professor Katrien van Poeck

- Professor Victoria Wibeck

- and others to be announced later

 

Type of course/teaching methods:

The course consists of a mix of lectures, student presentations and in-depth discussions based on literature, lectures, presentations and participants’ research projects

 

Literature:

App. 500 pages to be announced in direct communication with participants.

 

Course homepage:

None

 

Course assessment:

Participants will be assessed based on their active participation and their submission of a draft academic paper. Assessment is pass/non-pass the course.

 

Provider:

Department of Environmental Science and iClimate Interdisciplinary Centre for Climate Change

 

Special comments on this course:

The course is followed by an academic seminar to which the participants are invited; paper presentation will not be required. Attendance at the seminar merits an additional 0,5 ECTS. Seats are limited at the seminar, so it may not be possible for all course participants to attend.

                                                                                                                     

Time:

30 October – 1 November, optional to participate in subsequent seminar 2-3 November 1-2 page presentation of own project to be submitted prior to course start.

 

Place:

Campus Emdrup, Tuborgvej 164, Copenhagen

 

Registration:

Deadline for pre-registration (for the course as well as the subsequent seminar) is 8 September 2023. When registering, you are kindly asked to upload a short explanation (max 3000 keystrokes) regarding why and how this PhD course will be relevant for your PhD project.

Information regarding admission will be sent out no later than 15 September 2023.

For registration go to this link: https://events.au.dk/pre-registrationphdcourse23/signup

Payment of course fee:

Deadline for payment will be ultimo September after which further information about the course, incl. guidelines for paper submission, will be distributed to the participants. Admission fee is 72 €/535 DKK, which will cover catering and practical assistance.

If you have any questions, please contact Senior social scientist Lars Kjerulf Petersen, lkp@envs.au.dk