Week 4-6.pptx

Critical Foundation WEEK 4-6 The Foundations of Environmental Research This slide provides an overview of the key principles and concepts that form the foundation of environmental research, including the scientific meth data collection and analysis, and the interdisciplinary nature of this fie...

Critical Foundation WEEK 4-6 The Foundations of Environmental Research This slide provides an overview of the key principles and concepts that form the foundation of environmental research, including the scientific meth data collection and analysis, and the interdisciplinary nature of this field.  Introduction Cultural Ecology Land Change Science Natural Hazards Research Explores the complex relationships between Investigates the drivers, patterns, and impacts of Examines the causes, effects, and mitigation human societies and their natural land-use and land-cover changes, which are strategies for natural disasters, such as environments, focusing on how cultural beliefs critical for understanding human-environment earthquakes, floods, and wildfires, which are and practices shape environmental interactions. dynamics. increasingly influenced by both natural and human factors. This presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of the critical foundations of environmental research, equipping you with the knowledge to better understand and address complex environmental challenges.  Cultural Ecology Cultural ecology is the study of the relationship between human cultures and their physical environments. It examines how cultural practices and beliefs are shaped by the natural world and, in turn, how human societies impact the environment. This field of study explores the complex interplay between sociocultural factors and the natural landscape, providing insights into the ways in which people adapt to and transform their surroundings.  Land Change Science 1990s 2010s 1970s Increased focus on Advancements in big Emergence of satellite understanding the data and machine remote sensing human-environment learning for land change technology for land interactions driving detection and change monitoring land change prediction 1980s 2000s Development of Integration of geographic information biophysical and systems (GIS) for spatial socioeconomic factors data analysis and in land change research modeling  Natural Hazards Research Understanding Natural Assessing Risks and Developing Mitigation Advancing Predictive Hazards Vulnerabilities Strategies Capabilities This step involves studying the In this step, researchers analyze Based on the understanding of Researchers in this field also underlying causes, patterns, and the potential impacts of natural natural hazards and risk focus on improving the accuracy characteristics of various natural hazards on communities, assessments, researchers work and reliability of forecasting and disasters such as earthquakes, infrastructure, and the on developing strategies to prediction models for natural floods, and wildfires. environment. They consider mitigate the effects of these disasters. This involves Researchers examine the factors like population density, events. This may include enhancing data collection, geophysical, meteorological, building construction, land use, designing resilient modeling techniques, and the and environmental factors that and the presence of critical infrastructure, implementing integration of advanced contribute to these events. facilities to determine the early warning systems, technologies like remote sensing vulnerability of different regions. improving emergency response and artificial intelligence. plans, and promoting public education and awareness.  Interdisciplinary Approach Environmental Science Ecology Focuses on understanding the complex Examines the interactions between living relationships between living organisms and their organisms and their environment, including the physical environment, including the study of study of population dynamics, community ecosystems, natural resources, and environmental structures, and energy flows within ecosystems. issues. Sustainability Studies Interdisciplinary Approach Explores the long-term viability of human activities These three fields of research are often and their impact on the environment, with the goal interconnected, as they all aim to understand the of developing strategies for sustainable complex relationships between humans and the development and resource management. environment, and to develop solutions for environmental challenges.  Informing Policy Development The Shaping Sustainable Practices Foundations of Environmental Research Guiding Decision-Making Processes Enhancing Environmental Management  Challenges Data Collection Addressing Climate Change Impacts Gathering accurate and comprehensive data on Understanding and mitigating the wide-ranging impacts environmental factors, such as air quality, water of climate change, including rising sea levels, extreme resources, and biodiversity, can be challenging due to weather events, and ecosystem disruptions, requires the vast scale and complexity of natural systems. interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative solutions. Modeling Complex Systems Developing models that can accurately simulate and predict the behavior of interconnected environmental systems, which are influenced by numerous variables and feedback loops, is a significant challenge. Foundations of Peasant/Development Studies, Political Economy, and Green Marxism This slide provides an overview of the key concepts, theories, and frameworks that underpin the fields of Peasant/Development Studies, Political Economy, and Green Marxism.  Introduction to Peasant/Development Studies Interdisciplinary Field Rural Livelihoods Processes of Development Power Dynamics Peasant/Development Studies It focuses on understanding the It analyzes the power examines the social, economic, lives, challenges, and strategies of The field investigates the complex relationships, inequalities, and and political realities of rural peasants, smallholder farmers, processes and impacts of marginalization experienced by communities across various and other rural populations. development initiatives, policies, rural communities in the academic disciplines. and interventions in rural areas. development process. Peasant/Development Studies provides a critical lens to understand the multifaceted experiences and challenges faced by rural populations, as well as the complex dynamics of development in these communities.  Frantz Fanon Frantz Fanon was a Martinican psychiatrist, philosopher, and political theorist who played a significant role in the decolonization movements in Africa and the Caribbean. His seminal works, such as 'The Wretched of the Earth' and 'Black Skin, White Masks', analyzed the psychological and sociopolitical dimensions of colonialism and offered a radical perspective on development and liberation.  The Role of the State in Development State-led Approaches Historical Perspectives Emphasize the central role of the state in guiding and The political economy tradition has long grappled with regulating economic development, often through these tensions, drawing on case studies and theories policies such as industrial planning, protectionism, and from different historical contexts and development state-owned enterprises. experiences. Market-driven Approaches Ideological Underpinnings Advocate for a reduced role of the state and greater Underlying ideological differences, such as between reliance on market forces, privatization, and Keynesian and neoliberal perspectives, shape the liberalization to drive economic development. debates around the state's role in development. Tensions and Debates Ongoing debates around the relative merits of state-led and market-driven approaches, and the appropriate balance between the two in promoting sustainable and equitable development.  Linking Theory to Practice Theoretical Frameworks Grounding in Realities Empowering Marginalized Scholars in the field have developed robust Practitioners have worked to apply these Communities theoretical frameworks to understand the theoretical insights to real-world development By linking theory to practice, scholars and complex dynamics of development, power interventions, ensuring that programs and practitioners have focused on developing structures, and the lived experiences of policies are responsive to the needs and approaches that empower marginalized marginalized communities. contexts of the communities they serve. communities, giving them a voice in the development process and building their capacity to advocate for their own interests. Participatory Methodologies Contextual Adaptations Researchers have employed participatory methodologies, such as Successful linkages between theory and practice have required careful community-based research and action-oriented approaches, to consideration of local contexts, power dynamics, and cultural nuances, bridge the gap between academic knowledge and local expertise, ensuring that development interventions are tailored to the specific needs fostering collaborative and equitable development initiatives. and aspirations of the communities they aim to serve.  The Interdisciplinary Nature of Peasant/Development Studies Sociology Anthropology Economics Political Science Theoretical Perspectives in Academia This slide provides an overview of the different theoretical perspectives that are commonly used in academic research and scholarship.  Introduction Feminist Theory Poststructuralist Theory Postcolonial Theory Posthumanist Theory Explores the role of gender and Focuses on the deconstruction of Examines the legacy of Rethinks the boundaries between power dynamics in academia and language and power structures, colonialism and its impact on the human, non-human, and more- challenges traditional male- questioning the notion of fixed knowledge production, than-human, exploring new ways centric perspectives. identities and universal truths. foregrounding the perspectives of of conceptualizing agency and marginalized communities. subjectivity. This presentation will provide an overview of these influential theoretical perspectives and their impact on academic discourse.  Feminist Theory Feminist theory examines how power structures and societal norms have been historically shaped by patriarchal forces, and how these structures have marginalized and oppressed individuals based on their gender, race, class, and sexuality. By challenging these oppressive systems, feminist theory aims to create a more equitable and inclusive society.  Postcolonial Theory Legacy of Colonialism Identity Formation Examines the long-term political, economic, and social Investigates the complex processes of identity impacts of colonial rule on previously colonized societies construction and negotiation in the aftermath of and populations. colonialism, including the interplay of national, cultural, and personal identities. Marginalized Communities Explores the experiences and perspectives of Representation and Discourse communities that have been historically Critiques the ways in which colonized people and underrepresented, oppressed, or excluded from cultures have been portrayed and discussed in colonial dominant power structures. and postcolonial discourses, and explores alternative modes of representation. Power Dynamics Analyzes how power is distributed and exercised in postcolonial contexts, particularly in relation to issues of race, ethnicity, gender, and class.  Rejection of Human Exceptionalism Blurring of Human-Machine Boundaries Posthumanism Rethinking Anthropocentric Worldviews Emergent Human-Nonhuman Entanglements  Intersections and Connections Percentage of research papers published in interdisciplinary journals 68% 71 % 48% 42% 36 % Sociology Economics Psychology Environmental Studies Neuroscience  Implications for Research Impact on Research Methodologies Transformation of Epistemologies Diversification of Knowledge Production The incorporation of theoretical perspectives Theoretical perspectives have challenged The incorporation of theoretical perspectives has led to the development of new research traditional positivist epistemologies that has contributed to the diversification of methodologies that are better aligned with emphasize the existence of a single, knowledge production in academic fields. the epistemological and ontological objective reality that can be objectively Researchers from marginalized or assumptions of these theories. For example, observed and measured. Instead, these underrepresented groups, such as women, the rise of qualitative and interpretive perspectives have promoted the idea of people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals, approaches in the social sciences, such as multiple, socially constructed realities and have been able to bring their own phenomenology, ethnography, and critical the importance of acknowledging the role of perspectives and experiences to the discourse analysis, can be attributed to the the researcher in the production of forefront, challenging dominant narratives influence of theoretical perspectives that knowledge. This has led to the development and expanding the range of topics and emphasize the socially constructed nature of of alternative epistemologies, such as social approaches considered legitimate within reality and the importance of understanding constructionism, critical theory, and feminist academic discourse. the lived experiences and perspectives of epistemology, which emphasize the situated individuals. and situated nature of knowledge production.  Challenges and Critiques Lack of Empirical Grounding Disciplinary Bias Eurocentric Perspectives Theories may be critiqued for being overly Concerns have been raised that many Some critiques argue that certain influenced by the specific disciplinary influential theoretical frameworks are theoretical perspectives lack sufficient backgrounds of their proponents, limiting rooted in Western, Eurocentric traditions, empirical support and may be overly their applicability across different potentially overlooking or undervaluing abstract, making it difficult to apply them academic fields. non-Western perspectives and to real-world situations. experiences. Lack of Intersectionality Methodological Limitations Critiques suggest that some theoretical perspectives may fail Theoretical perspectives may be challenged for relying on to adequately consider the intersections of different social research methodologies that are perceived as limited in scope identities and power dynamics, leading to a partial or biased, leading to calls for more diverse and inclusive understanding of complex social phenomena. approaches.