Landscape Architecture and Climate Change 2012

Landscape Architecture and Climate Change International Approaches to Mitigation and Adaption

Objectives and Aims

This seminar aims to raise awareness for the challenges and possibilities for landscape architecture in the context of climate change. The course is conceived as an introduction into this broad issue. The main objective is to provide an overview of how landscape architects can contribute to the implementation of mitigation and adaption strategies on regional, local and site level. The first part of the seminar will touch on the scientific, ethical and political context of climate change. Obviously, this introduction will rather raise questions than provide answers. In the following two parts good practise examples of climate change mitigation and adaption will be presented and discussed. The contributions will be provided by experts from different continents in order to show the global dimension of the theme.

The seminar is addressed to a worldwide target group of landscape architecture students or students form neighbouring disciplines interested in learning jointly about this emerging professional field. Interested students/teachers should contact the seminar coordinator.

Seminar Framework and Structure

Three phases of teaching and learning are to be held between 23rd of October 2012 and 5th of February 2013. The seminar will be conducted online and include international groups of students that are working at different locations. Adobe Connect Software is used as virtual classroom and an this seminar WIKI allows for communication, organisation and asynchronous collaboration of students. Performance assessments are based on successful completion of four assignments. Depending on the number of completed assignments, the seminar workload translates into 3 ECTS.

Time Frame

• 13 online meetings taking place from October 23 2012 - February 5 2013, Tuesdays from 18.00 - 19.30 pm CET in the Adobe Connect Seminar Room (invitations to this room will be sent to participants by e-mail)
• Your local time? See Time Zone Conversion
• Participants will be able to login from 17.30 pm CET for informal questions & answers.
• Please make sure to log in at least 10 mins before official starting time for appropriate soundcheck so that we can start the session on time!!
• Optional work before and/or after online meeting time in individual groups.

Assignments

Performance assessments are based on successful completion of four assignments. Depending on the number of completed assignments, the seminar workload translates into two or three ECTS. Students may earn 3 ECTS if they agree, with their supervisor, on one additional assignment.

• Assignment 1: Analytical drawing of "Everyday Landscape" study area.
• Assignment 2: Landscape Layers and Elements - 'classical' analysis of study area (depending on availability of data).
• Assignment 3: Observation and description of behaviour patterns in the study area.
• Assignment 4: Awareness Raising - development of a strategy for raising the public awareness of the study area.

for more details, please see:

• Assignments

Target Group

• This course is designed for Master students in landscape architecture. 3rd year bachelor students may also participate.
• The course language is English. Efficient skills in both speaking and writing are presumed.
• Good levels of independence and willingness to work in a group are expected.

Participating Universities:

• University of Applied Sciences Nürtingen, Germany // /International Master of Landscape Architecture (IMLA) – Ellen Fetzer
• Kassel University, Germany // School of Architecture, Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture – Diedrich Bruns, Kun Zhang
• University of Buenos Aires, Argentina // School of Agriculture, Landscape Planning and Design MLA Damian Perez Andres
• Ankara University, Turkey// Faculty of Landscape Architecture Prof. Dr. Nilgul Karadeniz

Technological Requirements

• stable internet connection (DSL)
• PC or laptop with Windows operating system (or MAC with a different client)
• headset (microphone and earphones)

• registered participants will receive a link and log-in to the ViTeRo (Virtual Team Room) Program page for download

How to contribute as a speaker

Plenary session in Vitero

If you are invited as a speaker in one of the plenary sessions you will be asked to prepare for a 20 - 30 minute presentation in the form of a slideshow (final format: pdf file). Since plenary sessions usually take 90 minutes, presentations are often followed by a moderated discussion (15 mins introduction, 30 mins presentation plus 30 - 45 minutes discussion).

Guidelines for presentations

Please consider the following aspects when you are preparing for a presentation:

• Please avoid written information on the slides except for the most essential statement and questions. As you will be talking synchronously to the audience, there is absolutely no need to add much textual information on the slides.
• Please add many visuals and use the space given. You may not add a number of small images on one slide. Use several slides, each with one image.
• If you have questions to the audience (e.g. at the end in order to stimulate the discussion) you should visualise the question on the slide.
• Please send your presentation in good time to the seminar coordinator (at least two days before the meeting). We then have the chance to propose changes or additions in order to make your presentation more suitable for a virtual classroom setting.

Contact and Organisation

Dipl.-Ing. Ellen Fetzer

Nürtingen-Geislingen University, Germany // Study Programme International Master of Landscape Architecture

email: ellen.fetzer(at)hfwu.de

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