Sustainability, Energy and Development L6K907

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Course details

MSc Sustainability, Energy and Development offers a route to understanding the linked processes and practices that feed into climate change and inequality locally and globally, and how they can best be critically addressed. It takes a holistic approach to understanding interlinked crises, and offers methods and approaches for changing the status quo, rather than rely on global blueprints for sustainable development. In particular, this course takes seriously understanding the role of local and indigenous knowledge and community-focused action, alongside the role of local and national states, corporations, agencies and international organisations in meeting contemporary challenges.

The course is taught by an active, interdisciplinary team involved in world-class research on energy, sustainability and development issues. We offer comparative knowledge about achieving environmental and social sustainability through participatory approaches and active collaborations, including: projects for empowering climate resilience in the Global South, projects on inclusion and equality within European countries; projects on the role of local authorities as ‘change agents’ with active research in NE England; projects to address the social and political aspects of new technology development locally and globally, and achieve more inclusive innovation pathways.

Our geographical areas of expertise include Sub-Saharan Africa, South America, South Asia, South-East Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Scandinavia, the European High North (Arctic) and Melanesia. Staff also help students connect with Durham’s excellent research communities such as the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience, and the Durham Energy Institute.

The MSc is based around core modules focusing on the challenges of pro-poor transitions to sustainability, aided by culturally informed perspectives on new themes in development such as resilience, and energy justice. Options allow you to pursue subject interests with specialist guidance. The dissertation enables you to conduct independent research under the supervision of an expert, and become a master of your chosen topic.

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Learning

The MSc in Sustainability, Culture and Development (full-time) consists of two terms of teaching, during which you are introduced to the range of research questions and methods, and a dissertation, involving the design, development and implementation of an independent research project. You will work closely with academic staff and have the opportunity to become involved in active research networks and projects.

The course is delivered through a mixture of interactive lectures, seminars, film showings and discussion, workshops, and optional field trips, in addition to one-to-one dissertation supervision. Typically, lecture formats deliver key concepts and case study comparisons on progressively more advanced themes and topics. Seminars provide an opportunity to reflect in more depth upon material delivered in modules and gathered from independent study outside the course's formal contact hours. They give you an opportunity to engage with academic issues at the cutting-edge of research in Anthropology, in a learning environment focused on discussion and debate of current issues.

Full-time students will have on average 6-8 hours of formal teaching and learning contact per week, and you are also expected to attend weekly departmental research seminars, often given by prominent visiting speakers, as well as relevant seminars at the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience and the Durham Energy Institute. You also have the opportunity to present your work at the Department’s annual postgraduate conference. Outside timetabled contact hours, you are expected to devote significant amounts of time to reading, discussing and preparing for classes, assignments and project work. Throughout the course, you will meet fortnightly with the degree tutor, who provides academic support and guidance. Furthermore, all members of teaching staff have weekly office hours when they are available to meet on a ‘drop-in’ basis, or can be e-mailed to arrange a mutually agreeable time. You will work closely with leading academics to develop an original piece of research for your dissertation, and guidance on your dissertation is also provided by the dissertation leader. Before the academic year starts, we make contact with you via the postgraduate office. On arrival, we have induction sessions and social events, headed by the Director of Postgraduate Studies and attended by both academic and administrative staff. The course tutor will also lead local excursions, to orient you with important, beautiful, interesting and fun places around Durham. You can also attend an 'Introduction to Research Groups in Anthropology'.