Aims

This human geography module provides third year students with an opportunity to engage with the vibrant and growing field of contemporary geographical research on sustainable production and consumption, focusing on the provision and use of both goods and services. The module will introduce foundational concepts and key geographic perspectives on commodities, trade, sustainability and environment-society relationships. It will then develop conceptually rich and empirically detailed accounts of sustainability issues pertaining to the production and consumption of a wide range of goods and services, including food, energy, clothing, medical equipment and electronics. The course will be of immediate relevance to students considering post graduate studies and / or careers that concern environment – society - economy interactions.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module begins with foundational perspectives then leads into substantive thematic lectures and learning activities. It concludes with a module review and includes sessions to explain assessment expectations and to provide feedback to students. Module introduction and three other key sessions to help students navigate the module will be delivered over and above the lecture series as live lectures.

A typical outline is as follows, but the module leader may make changes to the specific sessions.

PART 1: FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS AND GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON SUSTAINABILITY, GOODS AND SERVICES
Lecture 1. Module Introduction
Lecture 2. Material Worlds: Commodities and Commodity Chains
Workshop 1 on Follow the Thing
Lecture 3. Origins of Sustainability
Lecture 4. Markets and Governance of Global Production Networks
Lecture 5. Political Ecology
Lecture 6. Geographies of Practice
Lecture 7. Geographies of Consumption
Lecture 8. Socio-technical Transitions
Workshop 2 on Socio-technical transitions
Lecture 9. Assessment Introduction and Preparation
Lecture 10. Questioning Growth
Lecture 11. De-Growth
Lecture 12. Geographies of End-of-Life Goods
Lecture 13. Environmental Justice
Pre-recorded assessment explanation: essay
Workshop 3 on growth


PART 2: SPACES OF SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
Lecture 14. Global Production Networks and Sustainability
Lecture 15. Supply Chains, Sustainability and Health
Lecture 16. Spaces of Sustainable Consumption
Lecture 17. Sustainable and Alternative Food Production
Workshop 4 on sustainable food consumption
Lecture 18: Sustainable Diets
Lecture 19. Post-Covid Supply Chain Futures
Workshop 5 on reshoring supply chains
Lecture 20. Sustainable Energy Production
Lecture 21: Understanding Energy Use
Lecture 22. Sustainable Urban Transport
Lecture 23: Place-based Planning of Urban Services
Workshop 6 on sustainable cities


Pre-recorded assessment explanation: report x 2
Clinic. Assessment 2 (Report) Support

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures introduce, develop and illustrate theories and case studies of geographies of sustainable production and consumption.

The structured research and reading activities provide students with an opportunity to explore examples of sustainable production and consumption through lively and timely case studies of different sectors, including food, water, energy, fashion, flowers, electronics, and medical equipment. This will be sessions through both academic reading and consultation of contemporary news articles and film.

Clinic sessions (referred to as “Scheduled on-line contact time” above) allow students to ask questions and/or engage in academic discussion about the assessed coursework.

Workshops sessions allow students to apply concepts and theories taught and learned in the lectures and structured research and reading activities to real work issues of sustainable production and consumption and allow conversation and inter-subjective learning.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

1 x 2,000-word course essay and 1 x 2,000-word report each worth 50% of the final module mark will allow students to demonstrate the following:
•       Ability to abstract and synthesize information on sustainability, ecology, trade, production, and consumption.
•       Ability to assess and critically evaluate the merits of contrasting theories that attempt to explain how challenges, policies, politics, and practices of sustainability play out in a wide range of consumer goods and utilities sectors across the globe.
•       Ability to critically analyse case studies of sustainability in the production and consumption of food, water, energy, textiles, electronics, flowers, and clothing.
•       Ability to develop reasoned arguments in essay and report format, respectively, regarding the challenges, policies, politics and practices of sustainable production, and consumption.
•       Ability to communicate all of the above effectively in writing.