Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Change Adaptation in the Peruvian Andes

 

English

 

45 Contact Hours distributed during the semester in 30 sessions of 90 minutes each.

 

The Peruvian Andes are an ideal place to consider the connections between indigenous knowledge and adaptation being the Indigenous knowledge extremely valuable. This course aims to understand how the Quechua communities in the Andes exemplify the paradoxical relationship between indigenous knowledge and climate change: they are extremely vulnerable to the effects of global warming, but they also possess a wealth of knowledge, practices, techniques, and technologies used by these communities to ensure food security in face of climate variability. Students will actively participate and demonstrate how the indigenous people in the Peruvian Andes respond to the challenges posed by climactic variability. Specific examples of how indigenous knowledge will be provided to help illustrate the role of the Peruvian people and outside actors in protecting, restoring and disseminating indigenous knowledge.

 

By the end of the course the student will be able to:

 

1. Handle concepts related to climate change, causes and consequences and components.

 

2. Identify the potential of Indigenous knowledge in facing climate change.

 

3. Understand the value of indigenous knowledge towards a sustainable development in the Highlands of Peru.

 

There are no prerequisites for this course.

 

The methodology to be used includes a combination of tools in order to facilitate the enhancements of knowledge, promote debate in class and increase students' ability to formulate proposals, such as: presentation-debate classes and case studies.

 

The structure of each unit includes a daily compulsory reading, followed by oral presentations by the students which will lead to class debates, group works, and other practical activities. Fieldtrips are essential to the course, which are programmed in a every other week basis. All these activities will be complemented by lectures.

 

Not required

 

Evaluation will be ongoing and will take in consideration the issues established in the competencies and in their use by each student. The dates for the Midterm and Final Exam will be indicated by ISA. Readings, tasks, class work and written reports are evaluated.

50% - Ongoing evaluation (quizzes, written work, readings, research, projects and presentations)
10% - Participation in Class (homework, reports, oral participation, discussion, and attitude in class)
20% - Midterm Exam
20% - Final Exam

 

There are no makeups for presentations, leading reading sessions, and exams unless you demonstrate in advance (and the Professor agrees) that a significant life-event prevents you from attending class or if you have a documented emergency. The following are not acceptable excuses: scheduled flights or trips, scheduled non-emergency doctor appointments, picking up relatives or friends at the airport, etc. If you schedule something else during a class when you are to give a presentation, lead a discussion session, or take an exam, you will get a zero for that grade.

 

Attendance and punctuality are basic requirements for an effective discussion and team based course. Beyond that, each person's frequency and quality of contribution to the class discussion will be assessed and reflected in the class participation score.

 

Missing five classes lowers your final course grade by 5% (approximately a half letter grade). Your final course grade will be lowered an additional 2% for each class missed over and above the first five. Arriving late counts as either ¼ or ½ of a missed class. Missing a reading/video session counts as 1.5 absences, Missing a field trip counts as three absences. Because you are given a leeway of five classes, doctor?s notes and other excuses are not accepted for absences.

If you miss more than 25% of the classes for this course (08 absences), you cannot receive a grade higher than C.

 

Bear in mind you are in a professional school, and a member of a learning community. Thus you are expected to comport yourself as a professional person. For instance, be on time for class, do not leave the class while it is in progress for other than emergencies -if you need to do so make sure you ask the professor for permission-, turn off cell phones, be respectful of others? viewpoints even if you disagree with them, do not put your feet up on your desk, raise your hand if you want to participate, and dress appropriately for a professional activity. Eating is not allowed during class.

 

Personal computers, tablets and smartphones are allowed as long as they are being used for class purposes (PDF files, Class PowerPoint slides, etc).