How do you view nature and why does it matter? Over the centuries, the relationship between humans and nature has changed. How do you, as an individual, view nature? And in what way do you value it? Your perspective largely determines how you interact with life on Earth. But where does this personal view actually come from?
Your perception of nature is strongly influenced by your surroundings, by what you have learned from family, culture, religion, and science. Furthermore, other people’s perspectives can differ considerably. This can lead to tensions, especially when it comes to decisions about major environmental issues. Take climate change, for example: one may agree that action is needed but disagree on what kind of action should be taken.
In order to tackle environmental issues, people have often solely looked to natural scientists and engineers for solutions. But what if it is not enough to understand the inner workings of the natural world? Besides understanding how the world works we should also investigate how we view, talk and make sense of the world we inhabit. 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. Furthermore, it invites the students to transcend disciplinary boundaries and use creative mediums to develop a broader mind in study approaches and beyond.