Course Syllabus
Draft Syllabus
Urban Ecology |
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| Semester & Location: |
Summer Session 3 2026 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Major Disciplines: | Sustainability and Urban Studies
|
| Faculty Members: |
Jannik Hansen |
| Time & Place: |
TBA |
Description of Course
Demographic trends reveal that the proportion of people living in cities is increasing worldwide. In this time of global change, we will examine how both nature and humans have responded ecologically and evolutionarily to urbanization. The course will examine physical and biological factors that drive the ecology of urban areas. A central goal will be to understand how interactions between humans and the environment drive and are driven by the built environment - especially in the context of the physical and biological. We will examine both conceptual underpinnings and the application of theory to practice to improve human welfare and environmental quality. Where possible, we will take a comparative approach examining differences and similarities between Europe and the US.
In other words, how can animals and plants do to live in urban areas, be it lichens, fish, birds, mammals, plants etc. Investigating these things not only in the classroom but to a large extend outdoors, in the city, suburbs and edge of the urban area of Greater Copenhagen. (Copenhagen Metro, if you will).
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, students should have a firm understanding of the concepts.
- The interaction between humans and the urban environment, especially the interplay between humans, biological systems, and the abiotic environment.
- The concept of urban ecosystems
- Principles of landscape ecology in an urban context, especially fragmentation and island biogeography
- Evolutionary adaptation of humans and other organisms in an urban environment
- Climate change and urbanizations
Faculty
Jannik Hansen
M.Sc. (Wader/shorebird breeding ecology and behavioural ecology), Dept. of Animal Behaviour, Copenhagen University, 2001. Scientific officer at Arctic Ecosystem Ecology, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University (2004-2021), incl. monitoring field work at Zackenberg Research Station, Northeast Greenland (2005-2021), but also some oceanographic work. Project officer (2014- ) for and board member (2007- ) of the International Wader Study Group. Has worked with terrestrial animals, primarily shorebirds, in the field in, Denmark, Sweden, Northeast Greenland, central Norway, and Svalbard. Have lived in Copenhagen for 25 years, and in Greater Copenhagen for 51 years. Nature and the city have been in his focus since his teens, having volunteered for years in the conservation group of the local chapter of Danish Ornithological Society. Jannik has been with DIS since 2021.Readings
Literature
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Readings on this course varies from reports to newspaper articles, video clips and scientific papers.
All readings will be available through links on Canvas, so you do not need to pick up a book at the library for this course.
McDonald et al. 2023 Denser and greener cities: Green interventions to achieve both urban density and nature. People and Nature 5: 84-102.
City of Copenhagen/Danish Ministry of Environment. N.D. The Port of Copenhagen – from a heavily polluted industrial port to a clean and thriving aquatic environment. https://kortlink.dk/yumpu/2sx5x
Turner et al. 2004. Global urbanization and the separation of humans from nature. Bioscience, 54, 585-590
Andersen et al. 2011. The end of urbanization? Towards a new urban concept or rethinking urbanization. European Planning Studies 19, 595-611
McKinney, M. L. 2006. Urbanization as a major cause of biotic homogenization. Biological conservation 127: 247-260
Beasley, Dickson 2023. Gull-human interactions in an urban population of Herring Gulls Larus argentatus and Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus. Bird Study, 70: 55–58
Copenhagen Municipality. 2015. Urban Nature in Copenhagen - Strategy 2015–2025. City of Copenhagen, Technical and Environmental Administration. https://kortlink.dk/itera/2sx5w
Field Studies
Date TBD: 13:00 - 17:00, excursion to Copenhagen Harbour to view examples of biodiversity improvements. We start in the classroom.
Date TBD: we go to Kalvebod Fælled at the outskirts of Copenhagen. A piece of reclaimed land that eventually became a nature area.
Several of the classes will take place in the field
Approach to Teaching
The class sessions will be a mix of lecture/discussion and time in the field. Lecture will serve primarily to present background information to provide for more in-depth analysis of primary and secondary literature. In addition to learning the central tenets of the field, critical thinking and quantitative reasoning will be stressed through writing, discussion, and presentations. We'll be outside a lot! Denmark's not always dry, so be prepared. Has to be life threateningly poor weather to stop us. A lot of hands on, keeping the discussions at a scientifically and educationally appropriate level. We are not playing, we are learning.
Expectations of the Students
You attend class.
You will be prepared by reading the papers and being ready discuss them in class. Being mentally and physically ready for class is important.
You will be intellectually curious about the course.
You will be respectful of the ideas and opinions of your classmates.
You will be honest with yourself and with me about your performance in the course.
Evaluation
Class participation and reading posts: Reading of a range of materials is a key skill to develop and enhance. We will spend much of our time when we are in a classroom discussing selected papers. In some cases you will be askes to, in groups, to present sections of papers using a white board.
Mid-term assessment: A series of images and texts will be followed by a question that you will answer in an essay style.
Research project: A main goal of the class is to build your experience in designing, conducting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting research. You will work in groups to develop a testable hypothesis on urban ecology and then work to gather data. The projects will culminate in presentations and a concise written manuscript. Much of this assignment will be in focus during class throughout the course.
Assignments of field exercises: In order to expose you to key methods and to give you exposure to options for your research projects, we will do multiple field excursions during class time (this is in addition to our two field studies days). These excursions will lead to short assignments that will involve data analysis and/or data visualizations.
Field journal: Throughout the semester, you will be expected to make observations and record thoughts in a journal to enhance your understanding of the urban environment.
Grading
Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org
Course Summary:
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