VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.
Agroecologists without Borders
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:54:01
Abstract
Students will focus on ways to reach out to a wider public the complexity of science. Sub-topics like the role of socially engaged art, political ecologies, and decolonial food systems will be explored in the lecture. Students will be encouraged to develop critical thinking on the connections between water, sanitation, food security and ways to sustainably improve food systems resilience.
Objective
(1) Students analyze one concrete example of an agricultural research project. (2) Students broaden their understanding of environmental and socio-economic challenges. (3) Engage with positive and empowering frameworks that motivate critical reflection and action on the types of transformative responses needed within agricultural and food systems. (4) Students articulate complexity and challenges in agricultural development interventions. (5) Students develop science communication skills by producing science communication materials in the context of the given case study. (6) Students practice their project management skills.
Content
In the spring term 2021 - the case study will be on nutrient cycling in South Africa. The case study is closely related to the ongoing research project " RUNRES – The rural-urban nexus: Establishing a nutrient loop to improve city region food systems resilience”. The relations between clean water, sanitation, food security and indigenous crops will be investigated through transdisciplinary and systemic approaches. More specifically, the focus will be on the establishment of a Decentralized Wastewater system (DEWATS) as a way to improve the sanitation in a rural South African school, while also contributing to the health of riparian zones using indigenous plants. Throughout the class, students will gain insights on ways to make science accessible and reachable for various stakeholders of the community. To facilitate community understanding of the role of the DEWATS system in Msunduzi, a science communication package will be developed in collaboration with students and scholars from the University of KwaZulu Natal.
Resources
Literature
Foster, J.B. (1999). Marx’s Theory of Metabolic Rift: Classical Foundations for Environmental Sociology. The American Journal of Sociology, vol 105(2). Oo. 366-405. Simha, P., Ganesapillia, M. (2017). Ecological sanitation and nutrient recovery from human urine: how far have we come? A review. Sustainable Environment Research, 27, 107-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.serj.2016.12.001 Caesar, M., Crush, J., & Hill, T. (2013). The State of Food Insecurity in Msunduzi Municipality, South Africa. AFSUN Food Security Series, (16) Source to book : https://www.alnap.org/system/files/content/resource/files/main/afsun16.pdf Jurgilevich, A., Birge, T., Kentala-Lehtonen, J., Korhonen-Kurki, K., Pietikainen, J., Saikku, L., Schosler, H. (2015). Transition towards circular economy in the food system. Sustainability, 8, 69. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/1/69
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar | Agroecologists without Borders |
|
2 h weekly |