Sem02 (2025-2026) Trouble in Paradise*

Trouble in Paradise

• Practical information

  Academic year
  2025-2026

  Semester
  2

  Period
  5

  Participation
  Also open for 1st year students

  Day(s)
  Tuesdays
  + various timeslots for weekly individual tutorials (subscription via Canvas)

  Time
  18:00 – 21:00 (incl. a short break)
  2 June: 17:30 - 21:00

  Number of meetings
  6 lectures/workshops/presentations + excursions
  Individual tutorials in week 6
  Final presentations (2 June)

  Dates of all Lectures
  31 March
  7, 14, 21 April
  12, 19 May
  2 June 2026

  Location
  Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam

  Room

  Tuesdays	31 Mar; 7, 14, 21 Apr; 12, 19 May	NU-4B43
  Tuesday	2 June	HG-01A36 Global Room

  Credits
  6

  Course Coordinator

  • Dr. E.M van Hellemondt
  • Dr. H.M Sjerps

  Lecturers

  • Dr. E.M van Hellemondt
  • Dr. H.M Sjerps
  • Prof. Dr. Maarten Doorman (emeritus)
  • Dr.Kyveli Mavrokordopoulou 
  • Norbert Peeters PhD

• Learning objectives

  After completion of this course students will be able to understand and creatively communicate their own view on human-nature relationships and value those of others.

  Students will learn to appreciate the scope of complex environmental issues, finding a voice to express their own views on these matters in writing and orally in a sophisticated, creative manner whilst recognizing and appreciating valid perspectives that others may have. Furthermore it invites the students to transcend disciplinary boundaries and use creative media to develop a broader mind in study approaches and beyond.

• Working formats & structure

  Combination of lectures, workshops, discussions and student presentations, individual tutorials and an excursion.

  Students will attend a mix of lectures and workshops. Each taught session (7 evenings) will have elements of theory and practice in which the students work together to develop their own narratives concerning nature-human relationships. To help students shape their own approach and message they’ll pitch their ideas to their peers. To ensure cohesion and encourage interdisciplinary thinking, each teaching session will be introduced by one of the course coordinators.
  
  In their own time, students are expected to read recommended literature around the themes (see indicative reading list), work on assignments linked to the lectures, explore other resources such as documentaries, museums, collections etc., attend debates and, depending on the intended output, experiment with materials, text, images etc. All these activities may be used as evidence of research to be included in a portfolio.

• Assessment methods

  The assessment methods will look as follows:

  • 10% Participation and presentation of idea to peer group;
  • 70% Portfolio of work including assignments and drafts of chosen output;
  • 20% A final output/ artwork/product.

  Students can only pass this course after successful completion of all partial exams

• Attendance expectations

  • Be present at all lectures and work groups. Make sure to inform your teacher as soon as possible if you cannot attend a class due to special circumstances. If you are absent for two lectures and/or work groups, or over 15 % of all meetings, the teacher can assign an additional task or deny further participation.
  • Active participation in the seminars and class discussions plays a crucial role in student learning in the course, and in the student’s ability to reach the course objectives: attendance, preparation, and active in-class participation will therefore form part of the course assessment.
    

• Fraud and Plagiarism

  With regard to fraud and plagiarism, the VU Student Charter (Chapter 10) and the rules and regulations of the Examination Board of the faculty that offers the course, apply. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board will be informed.

• Study load

  Total workload: 168 hours (6 ECTS)

• Study materials

  Indicative reading list:

  • Hulme, M. (2009) Why We Disagree about Climate Change: Understanding Controversy, Inaction and Opportunity;
  • Kingsnorth, P. (2017) Confessions of a recovering environmentalist and other essays. Graywolf Press, USA;
  • Worster, D., (1994) Nature’s Economy – A History of Ecological Ideas (second edition), Cambridge University Press, New York, pp. 130-140;
  • Wulf, A., (2015) The Invention of Nature: The Adventures of Alexander Von Humboldt, the Lost Hero of Science, Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

  Other possible literature and sources will be announced in class or via Canvas.