‘Doing Political Ecology’ seminar:
ENVS 5909

Course Schedule

Week 1: August 29
introductions, course plan discussion, reading literature suggestions

Robbins, Paul (2012) Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction Wiley-Blackwell, London (2nd edition), introduction (pp. 1-8)

Week 2: September 5
what political ecology is/does, how it can relate to your research, co-facilitation #1

Blaikie, Piers (2000). Development, Post-, Anti-, and Populist: A Critical Review. Environment and Planning A 32 (6): 951-1140.

Watts, Michael (2000). Development at the Millennium: Malthus, Marx and the Politics of Alternatives. Geographische Zeitschrift 88 (2): 67-93.

Week 3: September 1
grant writing discussion (case-study: Shawn Olson & EPA STAR)

• read EPA STAR call for proposals, Shawn’s 2011 proposal, reviewer comments

Week 4: September 19
co-facilitation #2

Robbins, Paul (2012) Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction Wiley-Blackwell, London (2nd edition), part I – what is political ecology? Chapters 1 & 2 (pp. 9-48)

Week 5: September 26
conference presentation discussion (case-study: Lucy McAllister & DOPE 2012)

• identify and bring in a list of presentation tips and suggestions

Week 6: October 3
co-facilitation #3

Robbins, Paul (2012) Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction Wiley-Blackwell, London (2nd edition), part I – what is political ecology? Chapters 3 & 4 (pp. 49-100)

Week 7: October 10
articulating your projects practice/discussion; building (collective) identity

• prepare a 2-3 min. summary of your research (plans) A. for academic colleagues, and B. for a journalist

Week 8: October 17
visit/mixer from Professor Paul Sutter’s research group (Department of History, Center for the American West, CU-Boulder)

Week 9: October 24
visit to Katie Lage (Earth Sciences/Map Librarian, Acting Head; Jerry Crail Johnson Earth Sciences & Map Library); research strategies and habits discussion

Week 10: October 31
co-facilitation #4

Robbins, Paul (2012) Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction Wiley-Blackwell, London (2nd edition), part II – conceptual and methodological challenges, Chapters 5, 6 & 7  (pp. 101-154)

Week 11: November 7
prequalifying exams discussion (case-study: Mike Henry exam, May 2012)

Week 12: November 14
co-facilitation #5

Robbins, P. (2012) Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction Wiley-Blackwell, London (2nd edition), part III – political ecology now, Chapters 8, 9 & 10 (pp. 155-214)

Week 13: November 21
fall break, no class

Week 14: November 28
co-facilitation #6

Robbins, P. (2012) Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction Wiley-Blackwell, London (2nd edition), part III – political ecology now, Chapters 11 & 12 (pp. 215-244), part IV – where to now? Chapter 13 (pp. 245-253)

Week 15: December 5
peer review discussion/exercise; conference participation identification

• read peer review manuscript TBA, identify three conferences pertinent to your work in 2012-2013

Week 16: December 12
wrap up, political ecology revisited, 2-3 min research summary revisited