Environmental Studies

The course explores the unique landscape of sustainable fashion in Italy, highlighting the interplay between its rich historical, cultural, and artisanal heritage, and the contemporary surge in experimental and high-tech practices driven by R&D centers and emerging brands. Students examine how these two facets intertwine – both theoretically and in practice – shaping a dynamic and contemporary sustainable fashion scenario. Thus, the course delves into Italy’s artisanal legacy in fashion and textile, presenting case studies of local craftsmanship and companies, accompanied by an overview of contemporary cutting-edge experiences, to assess their role in the current sustainable paradigm.

To this extent, students are primarily introduced to the historical development and meaning of sustainable fashion in the Italian context, to then focus on more recent trends in material innovations, design, and production processes. The contents of the course also cover the foundations of sustainable fashion as a global phenomenon, to critically reflect on its definition and to explore key sustainability principles. Classes are scheduled according to macro themes and employ a hybrid approach, blending theoretical knowledge (traditional lectures) with practical application through class activities (hands-on or meta design projects). An interdisciplinary perspective is adopted to demonstrate the possibilities of integration of ecology, philosophy, science and art in the design perspective. The course features field visits to local museums, institutions, and designers’ studios to witness sustainability in action. Additionally, guest lectures from field experts and scholars provide specific insights or address key challenges.

The course explores various social and ecological issues that are perpetrated by the current system of exploitation for economic gain. Students are introduced to the "flourishing business model canvas" (by Antony Upward). The components of the canvas are broadly discussed throughout the duration of the module, and familiarization with grand societal challenges and entrepreneurial approaches to them. Students work in teams during lecture time to analyze existing sustainable business models and understand how they are aiming to solve problems while delivering social and ecological value. Other sustainability related issues are discussed in class. Team work, open group discussions and utilization of the business model canvas foster sustainable entrepreneurial competencies such as cooperation, individual reflexivity, and initial strategic and systems thinking.

This six-week summer course provides individual research training through the experience of belonging to a specific laboratory at Tohoku University. Students are assigned to a laboratory research group with Japanese and international students under the supervision of Tohoku University faculty. They participate in various group activities, including seminars, for the purpose of training in research methods and developing teamwork skills. The specific topic studied depends on the instructor in charge of the laboratory to which each student is assigned. The methods of assessment vary with the student's project and laboratory instructor. Students submit an abstract concerning the results of their individual research each semester and present the results near the end of this program.

This course is an overview of marine environments, organisms, and ecosystems. Students explore the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the ocean, emphasizing major marine ecosystems (coastal, pelagic, polar/subpolar). The course also examines how human activities affect marine ecosystems and discusses possible conservation strategies. 

This course examines water as a resource. It covers the hydrologic cycle and quantification of the water balance, water use and supplies and the human impact upon water including runoff amount and quality.

This course explores the intersection of climate change and other contemporary global environmental challenges and the future of the Mediterranean. Students gain an understanding of Mediterranean geographies, environments, and societies, along with past and future climate trends. The course examines the potential impacts of 21st-century climate change on ecosystems, human well-being, and social systems. The course provides an analysis of similar ecosystems across the globe that face climate-related challenges, and of the national and transnational policies that are or are not in place not only in the Mediterranean basin but also in locations such as in California, Australia, Chile, and South Africa.

Key topics include the fundamentals of climate science, relationships between human and natural systems (such as water supplies, agriculture, public health, and biodiversity), and the law, politics, and societal debates as pertain to possible solutions to reduce the magnitude and impacts of climate change. By studying these issues in the context of Sicily, students develop insights into global climate challenges and localized responses. The course also provides a historical perspective on Sicily’s environmental and social changes over time. Students explore how the region's long history of cultural and political shifts has shaped its environmental practices and adaptation strategies. Additionally, the course addresses the growing issue of climate-induced migration to Sicily, examining its impacts and the region’s ability to adapt to these growing population movements.

This course provides an interdisciplinary exploration of sustainable agriculture, food systems, and ecological practices within the context of the Mediterranean, with a specific focus on Sicily. Students engage with ecological concepts and principles fundamental to designing and managing sustainable agroecosystems, with a whole systems approach encompassing the multiple dimensions of sustainability. Local engagement is aimed at enhancing students’ critical thinking about global food systems, the SDGs and sustainable agricultural practices.

In addition to the core focus on sustainable agriculture and food systems, this course provides a deeper historical and environmental framing, exploring the long-standing cultural overlays that have shaped Sicily’s agricultural practices. Students examine the island's ecological history and agricultural evolution under indigenous, Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman and Spanish influences, while gaining insight into how historical globalization has impacted local food systems. Special attention is given to the role of commodity trade over time and its influence on current agricultural structures.

Pollution prevention solutions are attractive both to society in general and to industry but require knowledge in the fields of processes, products, and management in modern business organizations. The course explores solutions that use technical as well as managerial tools and methods. The course reviews the key aspects of process integrated environmental protection, including technical strategies to increase efficiency in water- energy- and material flows (exploring methods such as monitoring, maintenance, cleaner technology, process modification, on-site recycling, good housekeeping) and environmental management (including supply chain management and an introduction to current environmental management standards such as ISO 14000). Product related issues constitute a central part of the course looking into life cycle analysis, eco-design, and eco-labeling. The course also takes a wider perspective at industrial development and the engineer’s role and responsibility to work with industry to reduce environmental impacts. The course consists of lectures in combination with seminars, exercises, and a major assignment.

This course explores the relationship between the history, culture, animals, and physical environment of Japan over the twentieth century, particularly topics often overlooked in history, such as forests, mines, pollution, animals, birds, and protest. The course covers important events, issues and texts related to the environmental history of modern Japan. 

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, with its diverse landscapes — ranging from Mt. Etna’s volcanic geology and coastal marine biodiversity to rural agricultural practices and conservation areas — offers a unique and comprehensive setting for immersive ecological and environmental field studies. This course will engage with key topics such as the natural history and ecology of Mediterranean island environments, the geological processes that shape the landscape, perspectives on human-environment interactions, and the oceanographic dynamics that influence coastal and marine habitats.