AK1215 Environment and Society in a Changing Arctic:Introduction 2.0 credits

The course will consist of a series of lectures and literature seminars which will take place at KTH, Campus Valhallavägen, during week 24.

The objective of this course is to give an introduction about societal and cultural contexts in the Nordic countries, with a particular focus on the Arctic region, in a historical perspective. The course is aimed at students from abroad who will take part in the course AK1214 Environment and Society in a Changing Arctic and to introduce these students to contexts that are already familiar to the Swedish participants in AK1214.

The point of departure for Environment and society in a changing Arctic: Introduction (as well as for AK1214) is the current development in the Arctic region. There is an increasing international interest in the Arctic, triggered by the impacts of global warming – the melting of glaciers, permafrost and sea ice. This has led to increased efforts by scientists to explain these changes, but also to new economic interests. An Arctic ocean free from sea ice offer new possibilities for extracting energy resources as well as new shipping routes. As a consequence, issues such as sustainable resource use and governance have become central items on the political agenda of states in the region. The Arctic environment, and the ways humans relate to it, has undergone changes before. In order to understand the present development and its possible outcomes, we need to know and explain previous periods of change. After this introduction course, the students will be able to describe overarching political, economic and cultural contexts in the Nordic countries and thereby be prepared to analyze such research problems within the framework of AK1214 Environment and Society in a Changing Arctic.

Applicants registered on a regular KTH programme are eligible.

For applicants not registered on a regular KTH programme: Documented completed upper secondary education, including proficiency in English.

Applicants registered on a regular KTH programme are eligible.

For applicants not registered on a regular KTH programme: Documented completed upper secondary education, including proficiency in English

Kursen behandlar politiska, ekonomiska och kulturella förhållanden i Norden och hur de har förändrats i ett historiskt perspektiv. Kurslitteraturen kommer att vara endast på engelska och kommer att förändras från år till år, i takt med att ny syntetiserande litteratur inom dessa områden publiceras. Därför väljer vi att presentera kurslitteraturen senast två månader före varje kursomgång, dels genom meddelanden och dokument på kursens hemsida, dels i utskick till kursdeltagarna.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

• INL1 - Assignments, 2.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

The course is only ment for students from University of Illinois who will participate in the course AK1214.

Examination: 1) active participation in discussions and 2) write and present a written assignment.

Nina Cyrén Wormbs

Sverker Sörlin

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.