English

This course examines topics such as the nature of science and matauranga Maori; the origin and age of the Universe and our solar system; the origin and evolution of life on Earth; extremophiles and the environmental limits of life; the search for habitable environments in the Solar System; exploration of Mars and Icy Worlds for extra-terrestrial life; extrasolar planets; planetary protection; and the ethics and future of space exploration. 

This general science education course is designed to provide students not majoring in a life science with knowledge about how biological principles are being applied to solve modern day problems. After an introduction to the properties of life, it covers current topics that often appear in the media, such as gene editing, genetically modified foods, metabolic engineering, stem cell technologies, synthetic biology, and precision medicine. The overall goal is for students to understand some of the basic science behind these biotechnological applications and to become aware of the strengths and limitations of current technologies. In addition, the course discusses the associated benefits and possible ethical concerns so that students can make informed opinions about the development of such technologies.  

This course offers an overview of the history and recent transformations within the field of cultural geography including contemporary theories and practices. The four thematic units are: the objects of cultural geography; nature, landscape, and cultural geography; culture, territory, and identity in a global world; space, difference and power, and geographies of inclusion and exclusion.

This course covers theories and processes of contemporary urban development from a critical political economy perspective, addressing urban problems and policy responses in our rapidly urbanizing world. The course examines what urbanization means to the state, to (global/domestic) businesses, and ordinary citizens, focusing on a selected set of key themes that are pertinent to the understanding of urban injustice. Such themes may include, but are not limited to, the understanding of the (social) production of unequal urban space, global circulations of urbanism, gentrification, displacement, and dispossession. Case studies are largely drawn from a diverse range of cities across the world, providing opportunities for students to contest urban theories that have largely been rooted in the experiences of the advanced economies.

Economic and especially wealth inequality in the US is rising, along with the number of and power exerted by billionaires, multibillionaires, and multinational enterprises (MNEs). While taxes count as one key instrument to reduce inequalities, the most affluent individuals and corporations seem to make use of multiple pathways to circumvent their tax obligations and thereby harm the redistributive effect of taxation. In this seminar, students will become familiar with general economic and sociological theories on tax evasion and avoidance, and challenge the view of tax havens as Caribbean island paradises, where the rich and famous store their money. We will discuss ways in which tax evasion works, the impact of tax havens on regional and global inequality, historical developments of tax havens, and economic approaches to measure tax evasion. Students are expected to have knowledge or the willingness to learn basic sociological as well as economic concepts and theories such as tradeoffs, opportunity costs, and expected utility theory. 

This course examines connections between gender, bodies, sexualities and identities. It asks how gender affects our experiences and how sexuality can be understood as a social phenomenon, rather than merely an individual one. It looks at the past and present and speculates on the future. It also looks at a range of viewpoints and case studies, examining such issues as the representation and regulation of bodies; reproductive bodies; socially ambiguous bodies; old and new forms of sexual identity and practice; and the impact of technology.

This course investigates some of the deep and puzzling philosophical issues arising from mathematics. Some are metaphysical and semantic: What is mathematics about? Are there such things as mathematical objects (numbers, functions, sets, etc), and if so, do they exist in the same way as more familiar entities such as tables and chairs? Others are epistemological: How do we obtain mathematical knowledge? Does it arise from pure reason alone, or does the empirical world play a role? Students examine a number of influential views, including logicism, constructivism, platonism, fictionalism, and structuralism. The course requires students to take prerequisites.

This course explores how culture shapes cognition and mind. By learning how culture shapes one's mental processes, sense of self, worldview, and behavior in daily life, one can develop a more "intercultural mind". This course is good for anyone interested in travel, cultural identity, cultural difference or living abroad.

This course examines the fundamentals of the methods used in science practice, how to construct and evaluate a scientific argument, and how processes of scientific investigation are applied across the diverse range of scientific disciplines. Students will also learn to communicate science effectively to different audiences, and how to evaluate reporting of science in the mainstream media. 

This course examines a range of practices, research and theories in the contemporary visual arts focusing on a selection of critical transformations in this field.