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Transdisciplinary Case Study
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:41:43
Abstract
This course is a project-oriented and research based teaching activity organized in a real-world setting. Students work on societally relevant problems. Sustainability issues and collaboration between science and society are key.In 2020, the case area is Seychelles, a small developing island state in the Indian ocean.
Objective
Students learn how to plan and implement their research work in interdisciplinary and intercultural teams of students. This includes: structure ill defined problems; derive research questions; design research plans; apply qualitative and quantitative methods; work in interdisciplinary and inter-cultural teams; organise transdisciplinary collaboration between research and people from outside academia.
Content
The Seychelles is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in the Indian Ocean comprising some 115 islands spread over a sea area of 1.4 million km2. SIDS share some common characteristics. They are: small in size and economy; are remote and isolated from international markets; are vulnerable against external disturbances and climate change effects. Seychelles is highly dependent on intact nature. Tourism and fishery are major economic pillars. Seychelles is in transformation from a developing to a developed country. Between 2012-2015 ARUP, an international consultant, developed the Strategy Plan Seychelles 2040. The Seychelles Planning Authority is currently working on the implementation of the strategy plan. Current major activity is land use planning. The preparation of the case study happens in close collaboration with the Seychelles Planning Authority, major partner of the case study, to secure that research is relevant for the local context and can have concrete impacts in the case area. Together we defined Sustainable Land Use as umbrella theme. Topics to look at may include transport infrastructure, tourism, conservation, housing, agriculture, etc. This is the third time that the transdisciplinary case study is organized in Seychelles. In 2016 and 2018 we were working on solid waste management. While in 2016 the goal was to provide the 'big' picture of the Seychelles waste system, in 2018 the focus was on waste sorting and waste treatment options, see: https://tdlab.usys.ethz.ch/teaching/tdcs/former/cs2016.html https://tdlab.usys.ethz.ch/teaching/tdcs/former/cs2018.html See as well the short movie here which explains what the transdisciplinary case study is http://www.tdlab.usys.ethz.ch/teaching/tdcs.html
Resources
Learning Materials (Links)
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Signup End
- 15.01.2020
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| practical/laboratory course |
Transdisciplinary Case Study
Does not take place this semester.
The course starts on 19th February 2020, at 13h15.
In addition to the weekly Wednesday afternoons (13h15-17, plus approx. 2 hrs. homework per week), the course is organised as block course with the following compulsory elements:
- Two block days: Fri/Sat, 3-4th April 2020
- Three block weeks (after the semester end): Fri, 19th June - Fri, 10th July, 2020.
Note that there will be an information event on the transdiciplinary case study 2020 Seychelles.
Mon, 16th December 2020, 17.15, at CHN K77 (TdLab)
|
No time listed | 210 h semesterly |
Offered In
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Electives (The entire course programs of ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich are open to the students to individual selection. The students have themselves to check whether they meet the admission requirements for a course.)
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