Case Study Map

Practical insight into local and global cases exploring sustainability

The academic or theoretical treatment of sustainability is an important undertaking. Equally important is the expository analysis of local and global sustainability using particular case studies for further analysis. In this course, case study analysis is done to focus the topic area material in a cogent applied case that serves to illustrate the course topics. Cases are chosen to examine concepts where success, failure, or significant events will serve to challenge students to interpret the complex dynamics of the social, environmental, and economic aspects of sustainability. Exceptional documentary short films that give first person voice to those addressing challenge, or insight into problems and solutions, are typical of a case study. Most often scholarly, peer-reviewed papers for further reading will accompany case studies. External resources, such as documentary films, that are used in case studies, may at times carry a message - more likely hope rather than despair - but direct advocacy is screened out for the films and writings used in a case study, unless useful to identify areas of disagreement and debate.

Points of view and opinions represented in any of the case studies presented do not necessarily represent the views of the instructor, the University of Idaho, our collaborators, or our productions partners. The development of critical thinking skills, as well as respect for the views, opinions, and passions of others is an important part of education and life. No one side in a debate, argument, or disagreement has a universal monopoly on wisdom, and the truths of today may well be the the fallacies of tomorrow. Students are encouraged to approach learning with open minds, leaving biases behind, and to use the hard work of learning to advance your academic goals and your mastery of the subject matter. -GM

Case Studies

  1. Chapter One, Part Two-Darwin's Dying World
  2. Chapter Two, Part Three-Shrimp Aquaculture
  3. Chapter Two, Part Three-Curitiba, Brazil
  4. Chapter Two, Part Six-Inuit People and Climate Change in the Arctic
  5. Chapter Three, Part One-Landfill Harvest
  6. Chapter Three, Part Three-Reflections from Haiti: CASCAF
  7. Chapter Four, Part One-Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal
  8. Chapter Four, Part Two-NYC: Highline Park Horticulture
  9. Chapter Four, Part Two-Sustainble South Bronx
  10. Chapter Four, Part Three-Rusaifah: Six Design Ecologies
  11. Chapter Five, Part Five-Interface Flooring
  12. Chapter Five, Part Seven-Plight of the American Farmer
  13. Chapter Seven, Part Four-Case-CLTS in Nigeria
  14. Coming soon...