SO/ES 360 - Designing the Sustainable City

“All the biggest problems that we face now (…) like global climate change or the pandemic, require collaborative efforts, not just the multiplication of the same sort of person a million times over.” - Peter Galison 

Since 2007, a majority of the world’s population has lived in cities – and this proportion will only increase. Urbanization on this scale and as this pace creates challenges for humanity. For example, cities use 78% of the world’s resources and produce more than 60% of greenhouse gas emissions. Across the globe, innovative cities are responding to these challenges by developing models for sustainable and resilient living. The most successful cities learn from each other and work together.

On this course, students will work in small teams to develop a solution to a sustainability challenge in London. Together, they will form and be part of a greater learning community, guided by faculty and outside experts working towards solutions to the identified problems. Students will use substantive field visits to gather valuable data and information as they develop their projects; they will make full use of technology to share their experience and findings with their colleagues; and problem-based learning will culminate in each team delivering a multi-media presentation to the group. Upon successful completion of this course, students will earn a micro-credential in Sustainability and Development that will demonstrate their sustainability literacy and ability to find innovative solutions to complex problems.