EG 330 - Society & Ecology

This seminar examines the complex interactions between social systems and ecological processes in urban environments. Urban ecology offers unique insights into how patterns of abundance, distribution, and biodiversity are shaped by social, political, and economic forces, while also revealing how ecological dynamics influence urban life and planning. The aim of this course is to introduce students to both theory and practice of studying society and nature through the lens of urban ecology.
Using Cape Town as a primary case study, this course explores how urban ecologies in the global south and north diverge and intersect, with particular attention to postcolonial contexts, inequality, and sustainability. Students will critically en-gage with current debates in urban ecology and social-ecological systems, while also developing practical skills in field observation, data gathering, and research design. Key themes include landscape ecology, biodiversity, ecosystem services, policy, conservation, and social ecology. Through seminar discussions, readings, and hands-on projects, students will in-terrogate the urban landscape, formulate relevant socioecological questions, and design methods to address them. Com-munity-based learning sessions will take place at the Sustainability Institute (offsite, in Stellenbosch) and are integral to the academic programme and are intended to provide students with additional exposure to the broader societal and ecological insights in Cape Town and South Africa. The course equips students with both conceptual frameworks and applied tools for analyzing and responding to the ecological dimensions of contemporary cities.