The Ecological Intelligence 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 goal of the Masters in Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities is to encourage students to adopt a more ecological approach, but this ideal notion of ecology needs to be individually considered. In fact, the definition of ecological design, sustainable design, or green design needs to be regularly contested and debated by architects and designers. The design of human ecosystems has immense consequences for the environments we operate in, and the advent of climate change has forced modern culture to acknowledge this fact. As architects and designers, we assume responsibility for understanding what actions our designs have on their context. Through a process of ecological thinking, we seek to connect different worlds and scales into a conception of what it means to design ecologically. Ecology is defined as the relation between organisms and their environment, but there is no necessarily positive or negative connotation associated with acting ecologically. The power of ecological intelligence lies in its ability to transcend scale or species and understand a broader network of actors, entanglements, and relationships. Recent trends in architecture and urban design have introduced radical simplification driven by mechanical infrastructures inspired by the industrial revolution. Since then, complex webs of nature have been increasingly subjugated by the forces of industrial growth and development, leaving behind immense waste and destruction. By thinking ecologically, we can make meaningful connections between decisions made by architects and designers and the effects they have on the externalized environment.
“The task before us then would seem to be…to find ways to nourish and sustainthe drive to change even in a world ofordinary, nonmiraculous causation,transforming Reagan and Thatcher’sslogan that “there is no alternative tocapitalism” to Suvin and Jameson’s that“there is no alternative — to utopia.’”(Canavan, p. 15) Image credit: Bladerunner 2049 This micro essay places … Read more
Current Overview Transport is the world’s second-fastest-growing source of GHG emissions after industry. In 2021, the transportation sector was responsible for 14 % of direct global GHG emissions, emitting approximately 8.1 GtCO2. In order to reduce CO2 emissions and meet Paris-aligned targets, some changes in this sector will be required. Generally speaking, services, jobs, and … Read more
The State of Climate Action study shows that Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) from the Industry sector have increased faster since 2000. The study reveals that Global Industry emits 12 Gigatons of carbon emissions, and 40% of Industry emissions are caused by the production of cement (1.6 GtCO2e) and metal (3.4 GtCO2e). There is an urgent … Read more
This blog summarizes section 2 (Power) of the book State of Climate Action 2023 with an illustration. The graphic illustrates the energy transitions required to achieve the immense task of preventing global warming beyond the 1.5-degree mark as called for in the Paris Agreement. We have represented the imaginary city of 2050, having reached the … Read more
About. The Ecological Intelligence course focuses on teaching students about various aspects of designing the built environment in response to global climate change and the imperative to promote carbon neutrality, resource security, biodiversity, and ecological resilience, while also prioritizing human health and well-being. The Masters in Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities aims to cultivate a … Read more
