Integrated Practical: Novel Ecosystems in Cities

Abstract

Novel ecosystems, that are strongly influenced by humans, confront the environmental sciences with particular challenges including the need to integrate natural and social sciences for problem analysis and developing solutions for practice. In this course novel ecosystems will be discussed based on the example of the city of Zurich.

Objective

This practical course uses the example of the city of Zurich to teach the basics for understanding such novel ecosystems and their design. 1. familiarisation with concepts of natural design in ecosystems shaped by humans: urban ecology, ecosystem services, the relationship between nature and culture, landscape architecture, urban planning. 2. application of knowledge from ecology in a human-environment system. 3. development of practical solutions using transdisciplinary methods.

Content

In the first part, exciting examples of urban nature and biophilic design are visited and discussed on excursions through Zurich. In the second part, teams will work on innovative solutions from the initial idea to the development of prototypes and the outline of implementation strategies.

Resources