Environmental Peacebuilding MOOC -- Feedback Sought on Draft Syllabus

Jul 16, 2016 | MOOC Steering Committee
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We are excited to share with you the draft syllabus for an Environmental Peacebuilding MOOC (massive open online course). In the next two weeks, we encourage you to send your edits, additions, and suggestions for the draft, whether regarding all aspects of the course or details for a specific module. The course is divided into organizing modules which will include lectures, in-depth case studies, and interviews with notable people.

The Environmental Peacebuilding MOOC will be the first MOOC to explore the important intersection between conflict and environment. Environmental Peacebuilding has emerged as a new frontier in interdisciplinary studies and offers a conceptual and operational framework for researchers and practitioners to understand and maximize the positive peacebuilding potential of natural resources across the conflict lifecycle while mitigating potential risks. The MOOC will cover environmental causes of conflict, environmental impacts of conflict, and post-conflict environmental recovery, with specific modules focusing on extractive resources, land, water, and climate change.  Advanced undergraduates and graduate students, as well as technical experts and field practitioners will be invited to participate in the MOOC to learn about the key concepts, practices, and workings of this growing field.

The Steering Committee for the MOOC comprises representatives from the institutions who are contributing the core resources.  They are (in reverse alphabetical order):
Erika Weinthal, Duke University
Richard Matthew, UC-Irvine
Marc Levy, Columbia University
David Jensen, UNEP
Carl Bruch, ELI

In addition to substantive comments on the content of the MOOC, we would welcome suggestions for individuals who might be interested in developing particular modules or lectures. Please send comments to bruch@eli.org no later than July 30th.