Time Schedule:
Stevan Harrell
ANTH 469
Seattle Campus
Delineation and analysis of a specific problem or related problems in anthropology. Offered occasionally by visitors or resident faculty.
Class description
The concept of "sustainability," along with related ideas of "development," "resiliency," "equilibrium," "system stability," etc. play an important part in understanding the ecological past, present, and future of the planet. But the concepts are not well defined or understood, and this difficulty is magnified when we cross disciplines, especially from social to natural scientists. In this class, a "social scientist," Harrell, and a "natural scientist," Francis, tackle these questions conceptually and practically. Students should emerge from the course with an appreciation of how complex things are.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Discussions of readings, excercises, student reports on readings, group projects, guest lectures, whatever else we think of.
Recommended preparation
Be willing to think systemically and critically, be willing to think outside your own discipline and engage scholars, students, and materials from other fields.
Class assignments and grading
Some exercises, some written critiques, and a group project that relates some of the key concepts to specific issues.
Quality of performance on all asssignments, with emphasis on the final group project.
