Course Syllabus
Smart and Sustainable Cities
|
 |
| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2024 - DIS Stockholm |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Major Disciplines: |
Public Policy, Sustainability, Urban Studies |
| Faculty Members: |
Jonathan Geib, PhD (current students please use the Canvas Inbox to contact) |
| Program Contact: |
Natalia Landázuri Sáenz, PhD |
| Academic Support: | |
| Time & Place: |
Mondays, 11:40–14:35, Classroom: 1C-505 |
Course Description
In a rapidly urbanizing world beset by ecological and social crises, cities urgently need to find smarter ways to reduce their ecological footprint and better respond to social needs. Innovation and systemic transformation across ecological, social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions is necessary at every scale and in every sector. The theory and practice of smart and sustainable cities thus crosses a wide range of academic disciplines and practice arenas. In a correspondingly interdisciplinary setting, this introductory course provides a unique opportunity for students to grasp the multidimensional theory and praxis of smart and sustainable cities in Europe. Students will often engage with the concepts through case examples, field studies, and other first-hand experience in Stockholm, a city which is highly-ranked in global and European indices evaluating smart cities, sustainability, and innovation (e.g. 2nd in ARCADIS Sustainable Cities Index 2022; first city to receive the award European Green Capital by the EU Commission in 2010; 2nd in EU Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2023; World Smart City prize 2019). These engagements become reference points for students in understanding, comparing, and critically reflecting on existing and needed practices around the world.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course the student should:
- have exercised critical thinking about the creation and implementation of smart and sustainable cities
- be able to comprehend underlying concepts and identify salient dimensions (individual and societal; ecological, social, political, economic) and stakeholders in the conception and implementation of efforts aimed towards achieving smarter and more sustainable cities
- be able to identify and analyse problems and tensions related to the idea and existence of 'smart' and 'sustainable' cities
- be able to identify and understand how social and technological innovation (for instance artificial intelligence) can be integrated in efforts aimed towards achieving smarter and more sustainable cities
- have practical insights into examples of urban innovations in Stockholm in particular and in Europe more broadly
- utilize frameworks for making sense of global sustainability challenges as well as individual, collective, and systemic efforts towards addressing them
Faculty
Jonathan Geib, PhD
PhD (Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, 2020) on complexities of engagement with urban participatory processes involving public sector institutions and art and design practitioners. MSc (KU Leuven, 2013) in Urbanism and Strategic Planning. MSc (KU Leuven, 2010) in Human Settlements. BSc (University of Texas at Austin, 2002) in Architecture. Currently a Research Fellow at the International Youth Think Tank (Gothenburg, 2020–present) and teaching the DIS courses Design Thinking and Smart & Sustainable Cities. Motivated by pluralistic approaches to research and design practice, criticality, and creativity. With DIS since 2021.
Readings
Roggema, R. (2020). Towards Integration of Smart and Sustainable Cities. In: Roggema, R. & Roggema, A. (eds.). Smart and Sustainable Cities and Buildings. 5–23.
Metzger, J. & Olsson, A.R. (eds.) (2013). Sustainable Stockholm: Exploring Urban Sustainability in Europe's Greenest City. Routledge. (excerpts)
D'Auria, A.D., Tregua, M., Velljo-Martos, M.C. (2018). Modern Conceptions of Cities as Smart and Sustainable and Their Commonalities. Sustainability.
Further readings/material will be assigned in connection with each respective class.
Field Studies
Field studies are visits or workshops lasting half a day. The course’s two field studies are made in Stockholm and are typically both visits to places where—and/or with people involved in— efforts towards a smarter and more sustainable city are being conceived, tested, or implemented.
Guest Lecturers
The guest lecturers are presented during classes.
Approach to Teaching
Students' outside-of-class engagement with readings and other assigned course material, along with active participation in class, is the foundation for class discussions. Assigned material must therefore be studied before class. In the course we will use many different learning methods: traditional lectures, discussions, group work, workshops, individual reflections, guest lectures, and field studies. Our primary approach is to build broad conceptual and critical understanding, especially by engaging with examples from practice.
Names and Pronouns: Students should be referred to by the name and gender pronouns they prefer by the teacher of this course and by other students. We will introduce ourselves to each other with the names and pronouns we prefer when we meet the first day of class.
Disability Access: If you need accommodations related to disability, please let me know as soon as possible so that your learning needs can be appropriately met.
Expectations of the Students
Although the course is often structured around concrete, technical examples and case studies, ‘smart’ and ‘sustainable’ are highly-contested concepts (not to mention ‘the city’ both as a contested concept and as a space of contestation), and therefore students need to be prepared to actively discuss, reflect, and question their own and others’ perspectives in an open, empathetic manner and spirit of shared inquiry—creative, critical, and constructive. Students should seek to develop their discussion and dialogue skills throughout the course:
- Developing listening skills
- Being open to and respectiful of others' ideas and ways of thinking
- Promoting an environment where everyone feels free to express and develop their thoughts, ideas, and experiences
- Sharing and developing your own thoughts, ideas, and experiences to contribute to the learning environment
There will be about three hours of class time each week and you are expected to work a minimum of six hours per week outside of class (including time spent on assignments, in group work, and on field studies).
- You should actively participate in all class activities. Remember to be on time!
- Readings must be done prior to the class session. A considerable part of the class depends on class discussions.
- Laptops, smartphones, and other electronic devices may be used in the classroom if relevant and not disturbing to the task at hand. Practice proper digital etiquette by silencing notifications, etc.
Evaluation
Active Engagement: Your attendance and active participation in class activities, including reading discussions, field studies, and assignments shared and/or presented in class. You are expected to bring your reading notes and questions to class, along with the assigned readings/material. Your active engagement grade will be reduced by 10 points (over 100) for every unexcused absence.
Individual* Assignments: Assignments include or combine research and documentation, analysis, personal and critical reflection, creative proposition, and communication and presentation to colleagues. *Note that this category includes assignments which might be conducted in pairs or small groups.
Group Project (team*): Includes four components: 1) Collaboration – focus on the process of group work, including how the group worked together while navigating and managing internal and external group dynamics; 2) Content – quality and rigor of the proposal; 3) Communication – how the group communicates throughout the process and in its outputs, and; 4) Documentation - how the group documents their process and proposal in written and visual form. *Note that individual grades on team projects may still be applied.
Grading
| Assignment |
Percent |
| Active Engagement |
20% |
| Individual Assignments |
55% |
|
Group Project (team*) |
25% |
To be eligible for a passing grade in this class, all assigned work must be completed. You are expected to turn in all assignments by the due date. If an assignment is turned in after the due date, your assignment grade will be reduced by 10 points (over 100) for each day the submission is late.
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:
| Date | Details | Due |
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