The Ecological Thinking course instructs and engages students in understanding, applying, analyzing, discussing, critically evaluating and integrating in their own creations key theories, scientific developments and socio-cultural perspectives regarding the design and construction of the built environment in light of global climate change and the need to advance carbon neutrality, resource security, biodiversity, and ecological resilience alongside human health and wellbeing.
The Ecological Thinking seminar will lead students through a five step process of theoretical exploration corresponding with Bloom’s taxonomy of learning:
CONTEXTUALIZATION (remember) //
Through lectures and dialogue, each student will gain an overview of popular themes and discussions within ecological design, from the politics of extraction to new methods of transitioning scientific research into practical actions.
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT (understand) //
Students will develop a vocabulary of ecological thought that will help them to navigate and comprehend contemporary movements/conversations within the world of design, particularly in relation to “sustainability” and the advent of climate change within popular culture.
CRITICAL THINKING (apply) //
Students will practice approaching contemporary issues with a critical lens, learning to unpack and examine how different authors or architects have chosen to make their arguments.
COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPMENT (analyze) //
Through weekly conversation, each student will gain an understanding of different interpretations of the same readings that result from the diverse backgrounds and cultures of the class.
SYNTHESIS (evaluate) //
At the culmination of the course, students should be able to compare, contrast and synthesize several contexts, arguments and viewpoints into a nuanced and informed opinion on the current methods of design and construction.
Exploring the Fundamentals of Scaling Laws with Geoffrey West’s Scale Geoffrey West’s book, Scale, explores the fundamental principles that govern complex systems in the naturalworld, including organisms, ecosystems, cities, and companies. The book argues that these systems exhibit predictable patterns of behaviour as they grow and scale, which can be explained by a few simple … Read more
