This project aims to develop a Naturicity Field Course among Sustainable Development MSc students, both in the Netherlands (Rotterdam) and Colombia (Cartagena). We will pilot a “CO2 neutral field trip”: three days being ‘field’-based for the NL students who virtually ‘take along’ Colombian students (and vice versa) virtually into the local cities collecting case data.

Background information

Within the proposed course scope, we will pilot a “CO2 neutral field trip”. To explore local urban nature narratives and cultures around the globe, commonly unsustainable travel options are required. To enable the students to make
cultural experiences, learn from their international peers, and explore a different city, we propose to undertake a virtual field trip instead. Therefore, we will add a three-day virtual experience to the curriculum of the course
“Introduction to Political Ecology”. Partnering with Professor Alejandro Camargo (https://www.hydrographies.com/) at the Universidad del Norte, UU students will virtually take along Colombian students on a three-day exploration of the city of Rotterdam, using their technical devices to share impressions and engage in joint discussions. Vice-versa,
Colombian students virtually take along Dutch students for three days.

Aims

Building on the UU objective of creating real, societal impact, this project aims to develop and offer a new, digital course element “Introduction to Political Ecology” in the new Politics, Ecology and Society PES track of the Sustainable Development Master Program.

Project description

The goal of the new course element is to raise awareness of students for urban nature narratives in global contexts and prepare them with a relevant skillset to conduct case research while facing the complexity and uncertainty of an international field setting.

Relevant course elements would include:
1. Joint virtual kick-off session to set goals, manage expectations
2. Hybrid/Online workshops/lectures by UU staff and the Universidad del Norte to learn
basics of field work and case study research
3. Virtual Field Trip Rotterdam
4. Virtual Field Trip Cartagena
5. Final presentations and online closing event
6. Presentation of main highlights in NATURICITY workshop

Results

This course element contributes to an interactive, intercultural learning environment for the students while
providing a valuable opportunity to gain interdisciplinary research experience. The course will have the collaboration of Professor Alejandro Camargo, who teaches the course “Environment and Society” during the same period of the year, annually. His course, taught at the Universidad del Norte (Barranquilla), Department Humanities and
Social Sciences, has a similar number of students, which facilitates the exchange between students. Likewise, one of the prerequisites of the course is that students are proficient in English. The course is required for the respective programs at both universities. This will allow the initiative to continue over time. The student assistant will, in collaboration with the team at the Universidad del Norte, carefully plan each day of the fieldtrip. The sites to visit and the way to organize the students will be decided. This planning will be replicated on future occasions. In the
future, the virtual fieldtrip will depend on the planning and build on the information collected in this first pilot. It the first pilot is successful we will consider lengthening the duration (to 4 days) or opening the course up for other students as an elective.