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Transdisciplinary Case Study
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:54:42
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 2021, the case area are the Seychelles, a small developing island state (SIDS) 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 are 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. The Seychelles are highly dependent on intact nature. Tourism and fishery are major economic pillars. The Seychelles are in a transformation process from a developing to a developed country. Between 2012-2015 ARUP, an international consulting company, developed the Strategy Plan Seychelles 2040. The Seychelles Planning Authority (SPA) is currently working on the implementation of the strategy plan. Land use planning is currently major activity. The preparation of the case study happens in close collaboration with the SPA. SPA is major partner of the case study in order to secure that the research is relevant for the local context. TdLab and SPA agreed on Sustainable Land Use as umbrella theme. Topics to look at may include transport infrastructure, tourism, conservation, housing, agriculture, etc. all of them relevant for sustainable land use. This is the third time that the transdisciplinary case study is organized in the Seychelles. In 2016 and 2018 we were working on solid waste management. See: https://tdlab.usys.ethz.ch/teaching/tdcs/former/cs2016.html https://tdlab.usys.ethz.ch/teaching/tdcs/former/cs2018.html There is a video which explains the core elements of the transdisciplinary case study. See: 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
- 20.01.2021
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
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| practical/laboratory course |
Transdisciplinary Case Study
The course starts: Wed, 24th February 2021 at 08:15.
In addition to the weekly Wednesday slots (08h15-10h00 - online - and 16h15-19h00 - classroom -, plus approx. 2 hrs. homework per week), the course is organised as block course with the following compulsory elements:
- Two block days: Fri/Sat 16./17.4.2021 (preliminary)
- Three block weeks (after the semester end) in the Seychelles: Mon, 28th June to Fri, 16th July 2021
Note that there will be an online information event on the transdiciplinary case study 2021 Seychelles: Mon, 30th November 2020, 17:15
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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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