701-1502-00L Transdisciplinary Case Study
| Semester | Spring Semester 2020 |
| Lecturers | M. Stauffacher |
| Periodicity | yearly recurring course |
| Course | Does not take place this semester. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Comment | Number of participants limited to 25. Students have to apply for this course by sending a two-page motivation letter (why are you interested? what do you want to learn? what can you contribute?) to michael.stauffacher@usys.ethz.ch and pius.kruetli@usys.ethz.ch (latest by 10th January 2020). Important: for students in Agricultural Sciences, the case study can replace the compulsory course 751-1000-00L Interdisciplinary Project Work! |
| 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 2020, the case area is Seychelles, a small developing island state in the Indian ocean. |
| Learning 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 is 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. Seychelles is highly dependent on intact nature. Tourism and fishery are major economic pillars. Seychelles is in transformation from a developing to a developed country. Between 2012-2015 ARUP, an international consultant, developed the Strategy Plan Seychelles 2040. The Seychelles Planning Authority is currently working on the implementation of the strategy plan. Current major activity is land use planning. The preparation of the case study happens in close collaboration with the Seychelles Planning Authority, major partner of the case study, to secure that research is relevant for the local context and can have concrete impacts in the case area. Together we defined Sustainable Land Use as umbrella theme. Topics to look at may include transport infrastructure, tourism, conservation, housing, agriculture, etc. This is the third time that the transdisciplinary case study is organized in Seychelles. In 2016 and 2018 we were working on solid waste management. While in 2016 the goal was to provide the 'big' picture of the Seychelles waste system, in 2018 the focus was on waste sorting and waste treatment options, see: https://tdlab.usys.ethz.ch/teaching/tdcs/former/cs2016.html https://tdlab.usys.ethz.ch/teaching/tdcs/former/cs2018.html See as well the short movie here which explains what the transdisciplinary case study is http://www.tdlab.usys.ethz.ch/teaching/tdcs.html |
| Prerequisites / Notice | The number of participants is limited. Students have to apply for this course by sending a two-page motivation letter. The letter should refer to: Why are you interested? What do you want to learn? What can you contribute? The latter may include particular skills you have the case study could benefit from. Please send the letter to michael.stauffacher@usys.ethz.ch and pius.kruetli@usys.ethz.ch (latest by January 10, 2020). Important: for students in Agricultural Sciences, the case study can replace the compulsory course 751-1000-00L Interdisciplinary Project Work! |