Studies of Human and Environmental Symbiosis
| Numbering Code | G-GES32 53263 LE23 | Year/Term | 2022 ・ The first half of first semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Credits | 1 | Course Type | Lecture |
| Target Year | Master's students | Target Student | |
| Language | English | Day/Period | Thu.3 |
| Instructor name | OGATA NOBORU (Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies Professor) | ||
| Outline and Purpose of the Course | In the class, reading materials of all ages and various regions will be offered to examine and understand the interaction between environment and human activities. Techniques of utilizing digital geographic data through GIS (geographic information system) will be presented for the explanation. | ||
| Course Goals | Students attending this class should deepen understanding ideas of relationship between environments and humans. | ||
| Schedule and Contents |
In this class, we read and interpret classical materials concerning the interaction between environment and human activities. Then we examine the desirable developnemt of civilization based on the sustainable base. (1) We visualize digital geomorphological data (DEM) and satellite images of Japan and other areas of the world. We use indexes such as NDVI (normalized differential vegitation index) to indicate vegetation cover. Then we examine the tight link between landform and vegetation cover in Japan. (Sessions 1, 2) (2) We read Japanese myth and legends recorded in histories and geographies included in Kojiki, Nihon-shoki and Fudoki, and compare these contents with Western ideas expressed in the Bible. (Sessions 3, 4) (3) We consider about how human groups exploit environmental resources to develop civilizations through reading Jared Diamond’s books. (Sessions 5, 6) (4) We consider how the Japanese have thought that the mountains should be covered by forests from ancient times. Specifically we review the idea of Kumazawa Banzan, a Confucian philosopher in the 17th century Japan and his practice in the Okayama region. Then we review the premodern development of river engineering. (Sessions 7, 8) オンラインで実施することがあるため、KULASIS、PandA等で確認すること. Check the information on KULASIS and PandA as lessons might be held online. |
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| Evaluation Methods and Policy |
Based on attendance and participation (30%) and term report (70%). Achievement level is assessed by GSGES's criteria. |
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| Course Requirements | None | ||
| Study outside of Class (preparation and review) | Students attending this class should read and study materials relating the subjects. | ||
| References, etc. |
Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond, , ISBN:0-393-03891-2 Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, Jared Diamond, , ISBN:0-670-03337-5 The Green Archipelago: Forestry in Preindustrial Japan, Conrad Totman, , ISBN:0-520-06312-0 |
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| Related URL | http://www.hgeo.h.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ogata/index-e.html | ||
