Why are you interested in sustainability?
'I think it comes from just wanting to make the world a better place and for me that really starts with looking after the environment and thus being sustainable. I think it’s got quite a broad meaning now, but I still love to be involved in the many discussions surrounding sustainability and how I can improve in my own sustainability. I also think the relevance of the climate crisis has played a part in my increasing interest in sustainability.'
Was this theme well represented in the course Climate Crisis?
'The theme was very clear in Climate Crisis. The first class was a nice introduction in how the course would cover nearly every area that the climate crisis has an impact on. I think some people might think that this is too much or too broad for one course, however, I think each section was really well-catered to and made the course available to anyone in any faculty because there was something for everyone. Whether it was economics, philosophy, physics, biology, there was an area in which everyone would be able to connect to. I think this not only helps you see how your field plays a part in the climate crisis but it’s also nice when you’re in a class with mixed participants and you are able to have an area which you know well. Sustainability itself as a theme was prominent throughout, but I think the course went beyond this. It gave explanations and solutions to multiple issues that were discussed and how we as individuals could make a difference and have an impact.'
What new insights did you gain during the course Climate Crisis?
'Climate Crisis really gave me a crash course in the science behind the issues of climate change. I’ve learnt about the general issues that are causing problems, such as increasing emissions and rising sea levels, but Climate Crisis really enabled me to understand the science behind this in a way where I didn’t need a degree in biology or physics to understand how this was the case. I can safely say that this course has helped me understand every course I have since taken about climate change and sustainability so much more. For example, the class we had on economics and the climate crisis really piqued my interest in understanding a bit more of the basics of economics and so I took one of the introductory classes from another faculty. The class I had had from Climate Crisis really helped me have a basic understanding which I found easier to understand because it was connected to sustainability and something I had an external interest in. I also have to add that in the course, although it can be quite daunting because it feels like there’s nothing we can do, we just got showered in all the possibilities and ways in which change can happen. I think this really made the course more enjoyable because it wasn’t all doom and gloom, but informative and motivating.'
What assignments did you have to do during Climate Crisis and what did you like the most?
'I actually kind of liked the assignments, which is weird to say, I know. But there were only six small assignments from 400-600 words over the course. Each assignment made you think about what you had learnt and apply it in the assignment. Another week, we had to (to the best of our financial and health abilities) try to be vegan for a week and write about the challenges we faced and any parts we enjoyed. That was quite funny and interesting to do; I found out that not all wine is vegan. I also liked that the assignments were small but enough to apply what I had learnt. It also gave me some ideas about what I would write my final essay about.'
Would you recommend this course to other students?
'I would definitely recommend this course for so many reasons. First of all, Marc Davidson as a lecturer is just top tier. He really goes that extra mile to make sure you understand something, to make things clear and to make the class and course interesting. It’s not his aim to make the course hard or demanding with excessive readings and extra work, but for you to really get something out of this course and relate it to your own field and life; however, at the same time it’s still challenging and stimulating enough to feel like you’re really learning something. Secondly, the course is just very well laid out. Each class is its own topic, and you know what you will be preparing for and learning on that day. The assignments are spread out with the classes, and the split of the exam and paper really caters to everyone. Thirdly, the content is just so relevant and important. It’s extremely interesting and taught in a way where you don’t need prior knowledge in ethics or economics or science to understand the content. You’re taught that in the class! I also personally think this is information that everyone should be learning. We are living in such unprecedented times and this information is just the pure basics of a crisis that is so prominent in our world. To have a course that is so good and so accessible, you would be missing out if you didn’t take it!'