English

This course explores the world of Japanese Science Fiction primarily from a literary point of view but also includes pop cultural media such as anime and manga which oftentimes employ the same narratives and imaginaries and have significantly contributed to Japanese Sci-Fi’s world renown. Tracing back the origins of Japanese Sci-Fi to ancient myths and early 20th century pioneers, the course then delves into the rich Sci-Fi scene that developed after the Postwar era, featuring Japan’s 'three greatest Sci-Fi writers' and their lasting impact.  

The course also focuses on groundbreaking Sci-Fi works from Japanese pop culture, contrasting popular formats such as light novels and web novels with Sci-Fi elements in canonized authors' works, and explores the multifaceted relationship between Japanese Sci-Fi and technological innovation. Moreover, the course analyzes Western sources of inspirations that have impacted Japanese Sci-Fi while critically examining Western, cyberpunk stereotypes of Japan as a futuristic nation. 

This course analyzes clues to major environmental issues that the world faces today. First, it studies the basic process and mechanism of the natural environment and how living organisms adapt to the environment. Secondly, the course teaches the role of semi-natural disturbances on biodiversity conservation. Traditional agricultural practices in Japanese Satoyama and agro-forestry in Indonesia provide some good examples of where people receive natural resources and ecosystem services locally and how energy is flowing in cycle, as well as providing habitat for native species. Such balanced interaction in turn can function as a resilient ecosystem. This concept is called the Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR). Thirdly, the course studies the impacts of recent human activities such as overexploitation of natural resources, industrialization, intensive agriculture and globalization, on ecosystems, wildlife and as well as on our health and safety. Topics include environmental carrying capacity, chemical pollution and bioaccumulation, soil erosion, global warming, climate change, endangered species, aging society and under-use of local resources problem, impacts of invasive species and genetically modified organisms (GMO), and how they are complexly interrelated. Last, the course discusses issues on alternative power/renewable energy usage, such as biomass and geothermal power generation. 

Memory is a precondition for taking responsibility for one’s past and being morally accountable. The connection between autobiographical memory processes and moral reasoning is crucial to the scientific understanding of what is commonly referred to as “moral conscience.” This course covers relevant scientific literature, empirical data, thought experiments, real-life examples, to promote students’ critical understanding of the subject matter. The scientific literature included in the course focuses on the following subject areas: autobiographical memory (key theoretical models, methods, empirical evidence); moral reasoning (key theoretical models, methods, empirical evidence); individual differences and moral reasoning (relevant literature examining Dark Triad Traits, as well as mood disorders in relation to moral reasoning); autobiographical memories and moral transgressions; autobiographical memories and moral emotions. Students are progressively encouraged to discuss the limitations and/or contributions of some of the presented articles.

This course offers a study of the fundamental and applied knowledge of the laws that determine fluid motion with an emphasis on high-Reynolds-numbers flows and gases and their application to the description of problems of interest in aerospace engineering.

This course examines the topic of branding through the lens of Barcelona. It focuses on how Barcelona strategically crafted its brand identity and global image to become a beacon of innovation and culture. The course includes field trips to iconic landmarks, business, and cultural hubs in the city to complement class topics.

The first part of the course deals with the historical development of European integration from WWII through to the Lisbon Treaty and the main actors that contribute to the working and functioning of the EU. The second part focuses on some key policies of the EU: students look at economic and monetary policies, justice and home affairs, the common agricultural policy, environmental and climate policy, trade, and democracy promotion. The third part looks at some current challenges and controversies that the EU is facing. Students consider whether the EU is an efficient and legitimate system, current challenges to the rule of law, Euroscepticism and the increasing domestic contestation. The class then concludes with a discussion on differentiation, (dis)integration, and the future of the EU.

This course covers advanced and basic mathematics, with guest speakers covering topics chosen from algebra, geometry, and analysis. The course covers:

• Algebra: Matrix Groups
• Geometry: Topology of surfaces
• Analysis: Fixed point theorems and applications

The course explores healthy and valuable soil systems, focusing on the soil microbiome, carbon sequestration, water retention, and sustainable production. It examines the biological, chemical, and physical aspects of soil and emphasizes strategies for soil regeneration.

This course addresses how to define and interpret key humanitarian concepts such as human rights, human security and the responsibility to protect. The course also addresses how to define democracy and study trends in democratization over the last 100 years. The class reviews the content of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the United Nations Charter in some detail. The class also considers the strengths and weaknesses of the UN Security Council and discuss the possibility of UN reform. 
 

This international collaborative learning course is designed to develop practical and empathetic communication skills through group work and experiential practices in holistic communication. It focuses on enhancing one's self-awareness, interpersonal communication, and empathy by studying mindfulness, deep listening, and storytelling techniques.