Postgraduate Course: Environment and Development in 'the field' (PGGE11296)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course offers students the opportunity to reflect critically on what engaging in 'the field' in the environment and development sector means, including its ethical dimensions and decolonial possibilities; being physically based in the UK. The course is built on the strength of longstanding relationships with academics, practitioners and other professionals in, or working in, the Majority World. Through the course, students will develop their own abilities and confidence to partner with those in Majority World on issues of environmental and social justice, including through remote working. The course will involve students applying the key theories and debates learnt in the classroom into 'the field' setting, connecting both Majority and Minority World contexts. They will also practice research methods and conduct analyses of empirical data as part of a team, which will prepare them well for their independent dissertation work after the course trip. Course assessment involves students conveying ¿fieldwork¿, research findings and reflections on partnership processes through written and verbal presentations.
*Field course locations may change for a variety of reasons, including security risks, increased costs or inability to access field locations. Any changes to the main destination of the field course will be announced as soon as possible*
|
| Course description |
Not entered
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2026/27, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 10,
Fieldwork Hours 80,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
106 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Develop the capacity to critically reflect on what engaging in 'the field' in the environment and development sector means, including its ethical dimensions and decolonial possibilities
- Develop the ability to partner with those in Majority World to engage with issues of environmental and social justice, including through remote working
- Be able to apply the key theories and debates learnt in the classroom into 'the field' setting, connecting both Majority and Minority World contexts
- Be able to practice research methods and conduct analyses of empirical data as part of a team
- Be able to convey 'fieldwork', research findings and reflections on partnership processes through written and verbal presentation
|
Reading List
https://www.bond.org.uk/resources-support/partnerships/
https://www.bond.org.uk/resources/37397/
https://thepartneringinitiative.org/
https://bukavuseries.com/
Tuhiwai Smith, L. (2012) Decolonizing Methodologies. Research and Indigenous Peoples. Second Edition. Zed Books.
Koch (2022) Deep Listening-Practicing Intellectual Humility in Geographic Fieldwork. Geographical Review, 1110, 52-64.
Vos (2022) Stowing parachutes - strengthening science. Conservation Science and Practice, 4:e12709.
Nevins et al (2022) A path to decolonisation - Reducing air travel and resource consumption in higher education. Travel Behaviour and Society, 26, 231-239.
Tucker et al (2022) Not just muddy and not always gleeful - Thinking about the physicality of fieldwork mental health. Area, 54, 563-568.
Wittmer + Qureshi (2023) Navigating the emotion-embodiment-language nexus in international research - Stories from a foreign researcher and local interpreter. Emotion, Space and Society, 100900.
Tomás + Bidet (2024) Conducting qualitative interviews via VoIP technologies: reflections on rapport, technology, digital exclusion, and ethics. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 27, 275-287.
Switzer, Vela Alarcón, Gaztambide-Fernández, Burkholder, Howley, & Carrasco (2024) Online and Remote Community-Engaged Facilitation: Pedagogical and Ethical Considerations and Commitments. Journal of Participatory Research Methods, 5(3).
Philips R. & Johns J. (2012) Fieldwork for Human Geography. Sage.
Flowerdew R. & Martin D. (eds.) (2005) Methods in Human Geography. A guide for students doing a research project. Second edition. Pearson Education.
Staddon (2022) Critically Understanding Livelihoods in the Global South: Researchers, research practices and power. In: Routledge Handbook on Livelihoods in the Global South. Nunan, F., Barnes, C. & Krishnamurthy, S. (eds.). Routledge.
|
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Research Methods,Environment,Development,Fieldwork |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Samantha Staddon
Tel:
Email: Sam.Staddon@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Lynn Taylor
Tel:
Email: Lynn.Taylor@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage