London’s Transforming Urban Environment

Catalog description

This course is a place-based seminar focused on key issues in contemporary urban nature, from the built environments of homes and neighborhoods, to infrastructures of waste and water management, to waterways, forests, and parks. Using the city of London as a case-study, students will explore topics including migration and racism; health and environmental justice; gentrification and public housing; green landscaping; climate change preparedness; and natural disaster. For the first eight weeks of the course, weekly seminars at Cornell will feature readings and discussions on these and other topics, drawn from anthropology, geography, sociology, and neighboring academic fields. Along the way, students will design independent projects focused on the history, ecology, and landscape of a particular neighborhood of the city. During spring break, the entire class will travel to London for one week in which we will be joined by local experts to explore the places and problems introduced in the first eight weeks. Students will carry out their independent research in London and present the results upon return.