Dr Peter Cock
6 points 2 hours per week Second semester Clayton
Objectives On completion of this subject candidates will be able to:conceptualise conserver futures; explore possibilities for a conserver society; sample and assess practical demonstrations and understand barriers to their generalisation.
Synopsis From the 1970s various studies of the
materially over-developed world have been performed to propose structures
designed to regenerate the wellbeing of the human community within the
biosphere's limit. This unit, based on a social ecology perspective, is
conerned to examine the relations of humans with the biosphere that contribute
to sustaining biodiversity. Whereas environmental psychology addressed a
person's quality of nature connections, this unit is concerned with the
challeng of re-establishing a humane society that lives within nature's
bounds.
Weekly two-hour sessions include lectures and seminar presentations, as well as
a weekend field trip. Candidates make class presentations of their research
into one particular aspect of what might form part of a conserver society. This
reviewed aspect then forms part of the units developing conserver society
characterisation. The field trip is used to simulate conserver actions as a
class and to review one conserver society initiative.
Assessment Seminar paper (1000 words): 15% Essay (3000 words): 40%Journal: 15% Presentation and class participation: 15%Field trip review: 15%
Preliminary reading
Flannery T Walden vol. 2, AMS Press, 1995
Livingston J The Fallacy of Wildlife Conservation McLelland and Stewart,
1981
Recommended texts
Thoreau H Walden vol 2, AMS Press, 1954
Cock P (eds) Social structures for sustainability Fundamental Quations
Paper no. 11, vol. 3, ANU, 1991