Geography of World Development

In a period of globalization where sustainable development principles encourage us to think globally and act locally, geographical knowledge has become a necessity. This course will introduce the students to several different aspects of human development locally and in various parts of the planet. During the course we will explore and analyse the geography of several factors associated with development such as: natural resources, demographics, environmental deterioration (deforestation, water scarcity, and global atmospheric change), energy, food production and transportation, fair trade, and organic food. The course content also involves several short outings (on freshwater, wastewater treatment and waste disposal) and a one-day field trip during which participants will gather real world information on local development.