Ethics and Politics of Human-Environment Research (WS 21/22)

This seminar is co-hosted by members of the IRI THESys Decolonial Research Group: Paz Araya, Ana Buchadas, Sascha Cornejo, Anna Heitger, and Jorge Vega, in collaboration with Stefan Schäfer (Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies and IRI THESys) and guest speaker Rosa Castillo (Institute for Asian and African Studies, HU Berlin). Point of contact is Dr. Stefan Schäfer (stefan.schaefer@iass-potsdam.de). 

The seminar introduces the problems, questions, and opportunities for reflection that come with the co-production of knowledge and power in human-environment research. It will review how science shapes, and is itself shaped by, the exercise of power, and will encourage participants to reflect on their own research and political positioning. The course will focus on major theoretical critiques that address the politics of knowledge production and the politics production of knowledge, including postcolonial, decolonial and feminist perspectives, and invite students to critically re-think science.

The seminar takes place Wednesdays, 10-12. We will meet in person when possible and virtually when necessary, with the first session on October 20th taking place virtually (
https://hu-berlin.zoom.us/j/63388199134?pwd=TWFiMUZVMFN3Wm9Lazc3Z2doSGdtZz09). Following a participatory approach to co-producing knowledge, the seminar will foster open discussions that are complemented by readings and other relevant material. In this spirit, students will be active participants in and co-designers of the course: in student-led sessions, they will share their own readings and other materials that they consider relevant for the discussion, develop questions about their own research interests, and relate their reflections to the critiques and insights developed throughout the course. Each session will be moderated by one or two hosts. The course will build on and deepen the ethical and political aspects of the seminar “Fundamentals of Human-Environment Research”.

Students are required to participate actively during class. Asynchronous work will include preparation of a student-led session and two short essays.

An MAP is possible and will consist of a final essay that engages in greater depth with one of the themes raised in the seminar.