- Inter-faculty Studies in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Bachelor's degree, first cycle programme, Computer Science
- Bachelor's degree, first cycle programme, Mathematics
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Computer Science
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Mathematics
Global warming – global warnings 3302-GOWO-OG
For more than thirty years science has been crystal clear”–states Greta Thunberg (New York 23th September 2019). We will look for some evidence from the past, predictions and analyses which address the contemporary crisis. Then anthropogenic climate change faced ignorance and denial throughout history. Already in the sixties and seventies many warnings and predictions have been published in book form, like Silent Spring (the impact of insecticides on the environment), The Population Bomb (the predicted Malthusian trap didn’t happen, but many of the ideas from the book are still thought-provoking) or The Limits to Growth. These early warnings were mostly ignored or their message was manipulated, some of the experts were even falsely accused (the case of Rachel Carlson)
During the seminar we will discuss diverse texts: non-fiction for a wider audience (Rachel Carlson’s Silent Spring), scientific analyses (e.g. Naomi Oreskes and Eric M. Conway), Andreas Malm’s manifesto How to Blow up a Pipeline, fictional literature, especially cli-fi (Maja Lunde, Michael Crichton, Kim Stanley Robinson, Nathaniel Rich), essays etc. The main focus is: why knowledge and science were not able to transmit their message to a broader public.
Instead of solely complaining, we will move forward with more inspiring ideas (Greta Thunberg's To-do List from The Climate Book (ed. by G.T.))
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
The student will know and understand:
Selected aspects of environmental movement
The need to trust science
the history of "global warnings"
the ties of literature with other areas of knowledge, including the natural sciences
K_W15. The student has the knowledge and understanding of practical application of knowledge in professional activities.
The student is able to:
analyze and discuss literary texts and other texts of culture from the perspective of ecocriticism
K_U07 The student can prepare an oral presentation and can present their own views.
K_U08 The student can communicate with the help of various channels and communicative strategies with specialists of selected branches of science.
K_U11 The student can plan and organize their work and take their own initiative.
K_U12 The student can cooperate in a team work, including the multicultural environment.
K_U14 The student can realize the need of constant self-improvement and development.
Assessment criteria
in-class presentations, one-to-one conferences (if required)
2 absences are allowed, more absences (only reasonable excuse) = one-to-one conference + written assignment
Bibliography
1. Rachel Carlson Silent Spring (1962)
2. Michael Crichton State of Fear (selected chapters – James Hansen, Rachel Carlson) (2004)
3. Naomi Oreskes, Eric M. Conway Merchants of Doubt (chapters on Rachel Carlson) (2010)
4. Maja Lunde The History of Bees (2015, selected chapters)
5. Paul Ehrlich The Population Bomb (1968)
6. Club of Rome The Limits to Growth (1972)
7. Naomi Oreskes/Eric M. Conway chapter on Cornucopianism from: N.O./E.C. The Big Myth (2023)
8. James Powell The Inquisition of Climate Science (2011)
9. Peter Frankopan The Earth Transformed (2023)
10. Andreas Malm How to Blow up a Pipeline (2021)
11. Andreas Malm Fossil Capital (2016)
12. Jonathan Franzen What if we Stopped Pretending? (2019)
13. Greta Thunberg (ed.) The Climate Book (2022, selected chapters, especially To do list)
14. Kim Stanley Robinson The Ministry for the Future (2020)
15. Nathaniel Rich Losing Earth (2019)
16. Nathaniel Rich Odds against Tomorrow (213)
17. James Lovelock Gaia-Hypothesis (1972, 1974) The Vanishing Face of Gaia (2009)
Recent texts and publications not listed
Lecturer’s own materials
Notes
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Term 2024Z:
Details under: GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE COURSE |
Additional information
Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:
- Inter-faculty Studies in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Bachelor's degree, first cycle programme, Computer Science
- Bachelor's degree, first cycle programme, Mathematics
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Computer Science
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Mathematics
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: