ANT 200 - Environment and Culture (SYS) (1)

The study of anthropology documents how Humanity has adapted and changed over time and in different settings. In this seminar, we will explore both the ways that human societies have been transformed by the ecologies and natural conditions they have encountered, and the long history we have, as a species, with transforming the world around us-most recently becoming the primary driver for many terrestrial systems. In addition to, and intertwined with, human-induced climate change-which will be a defining challenge of the 21st century-we can anticipate greater incidents of wildfires (and other “natural” disasters), loss of biodiversity, food and water insecurity, climate migration, and even armed conflict over dwindling resources. Yet, as this course will detail, this is not the first time we have faced great crisis as a species, and many times before, our unique evolutionary adaptation of cumulative cultural elaboration has provided us with innovative solutions. Thus, we will also explore the emergent possibilities (and potential drawbacks) of recent developments in technologies and social arrangements, including information networks, space exploration, gene editing, artificial intelligence, and renewable products and services. Throughout the course we will engage in community-based research with local, environmentally-concerned organizations and students will develop a practical policy suggestion for issues identified by the local organization as areas of primary concern or opportunity. Only open to sophomores.
(Sophomore Year Seminar (SYS)) (Social Science)