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751-5001-00L 5 Credits BSC , MSC D-USYS , D-ARCH

Cultivating Knowledge: Communication and Collaboration in Agroecology

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Johan Six, Dr. Kenza Benabderrazik
The participation in this course requires an application until Friday 20 February 2026, at 8:00 AM. Please submit a one-page motivation letter e.g. including following elements: • What draws you to a course that connects design thinking, science communication, and agroecology? • What would you bring to a collaborative and creative learning space? • How does this course fit into your current studies and future direction? Send your application to: You will be notified no later than Tuesday 24 February 2026.
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:13:56

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 2026 - the case study will be on the Bishopstowe Agroecology Living Lab (BALL) in South Africa. The case study is part of the ongoing research project "RUNRES – The rural-urban nexus: Establishing a nutrient loop to improve city region food systems resilience”. The BALL consists of three components deemed critic: First, it is place-based community-led living lab which allows space for learning by doing al in addressing agroecology transition and food system transformation.and observation learning on all the 10 agroecology principles in one place. Second, it has a research infrastructure component which creates a space a participatory and on-farm scientific research and experimentation. For instance, the scientific experiments will be around circular economy principles. Third, it has an agroecology curriculum which will include short courses covering all the 10 principles of agroecology. 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 Livinig Lab, a science communication package will be developed in collaboration with students and scholars from the University of KwaZulu Natal.

Resources

Literature

Gliessman, S.R., Méndez, V.E., Izzo, V.M., & Engles, E.W. (2022). Agroecology: Leading the Transformation to a Just and Sustainable Food System (4th ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003304043 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. Link 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 Wilde, B.C.; Lieberherr, E.; Okem, A.E.; Six, J. Nitrified Human Urine as a Sustainable and Socially Acceptable Fertilizer: An Analysis of Consumer Acceptance in Msunduzi, South Africa. Sustainability 2019, 11, 2456. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092456

General Information

Language
English
Levels
BSC , MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
graded semester performance

Registration & Places

Limited places (Special selection)

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Cultivating Knowledge: Communication and Collaboration in Agroecology
This course takes place in the greenhouse HAC ( ) Thursdays 08:15-12:00.
  • Thu 08:00-12:00 (Ex te rn)
4 h weekly

Offered In