Subject Area: Environmental Humanities

This course interprets the concepts of the social construction of the environment and the sustainability of ecosystems, in the specific context of the Sydney Region, with Botany Bay and its catchment as a key case study area. Its broad aim is to explore and enlarge theoretical understanding of how the 'environment' as we experience it is constructed and shaped by social and cultural processes of knowledge formation, policy, and social action. It sets out to develop an interdisciplinary, focussed understanding of 'nature' and the relationship between human choice and our actions towards a sustainable future. Environmental issues are examined in the light of historical, sociological, economic and political developments at the regional, national and global levels. The course explores prospects and processes for practical intervention: participants undertake field studies, complete a substantial research report, and reflect on their own professional responsibility for taking action.