This interdisciplinary course examines the scientific, cultural, and social dimensions of the climate crisis. Students engage critically with a combination of scholarly articles, podcasts, and music to explore how environmental knowledge is constructed, communicated, and mobilized toward action.
Classes 1–2: Foundations
We start with an exploration of how science produces knowledge, the roles of peer review and scientific authorities like the IPCC, and foundational climate system processes including greenhouse gases, models, and climate versus weather distinctions.
Class 3: On-Site Discussions
Students develop critical thinking skills through collective analysis of podcasts and music, sharing questions, and connecting scientific concepts with North American Indigenous environmental perspectives.
Classes 4–5: Deepening Knowledge
We delve into biodiversity, mass extinctions, and the human-induced transformations of the biosphere. This is followed by studies of the Anthropocene epoch and energy systems, from fossil fuels to renewables, framed within planetary boundaries.
Class 6: On-Site Engagement
Presentations focus on Biodiversity & Extinction or The Anthropocene & Energy, integrating Aboriginal Indigenous insights to deepen understanding of these complex topics.
Class 7: Society & Action
The course explores pathways of adaptation and action, addressing cognitive dissonance and eco-anxiety. We discuss economic paradigms—including green growth versus degrowth, circular economy—alongside carbon pricing, corporate social responsibility, social justice, and public policy frameworks.
Class 8: Final On-Site Discussions
The concluding session centers on student presentations around Action, Economics, & Society, incorporating Indigenous perspectives from Aotearoa/New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, or Africa.
Class 9: Film Projection
The projection of De la guerre froide à la guerre verte by Anna Recalde Miranda will take place on Friday, 9 January. Students will attend the screening followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker. This interdisciplinary event is shared with L2 Spanish and Lettres students and provides a focused opportunity to reflect on the intersections of ecology, politics, and culture through cinema. Attendance is mandatory and counts toward the course requirements; time and venue will be confirmed and communicated in advance.
Throughout the course, music by artists such as Aurora, Bob Dylan, Billie Eilish, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, and Tracy Chapman offers cultural lenses on ecological change. Complementary podcasts and curated scholarly readings equip students to fuse scientific literacy with cultural and ethical awareness.