Geography

This course focuses on urbanization processes in the Global South, with a specific focus on sub-Saharan Africa. A multiplicity of contemporary issues related to this process are discussed. Particular topics of interest are in-migration, livelihoods, planning, slums, and land tenure. Attention is then turned to the urban-rural distinction, the political city, boom towns. Urbanization in the Global North is challenged, supported by, or made redundant by urbanization process in the Global South, therefore the course looks at theories on urbanization from the Global South.

The course provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the governance of climate and environmental change. Students are introduced to the science of regional and global environmental change, and frameworks for understanding the relationship between humans and biophysical systems. This is followed by an examination of the different policies, instruments, and approaches used by different actors to govern climate and environmental change. These include government, market (e.g. businesses) and civil society (e.g. NGOs and community groups) actors. Finally, the course reflects on the politics of environmental change, providing students with a critical perspective on contemporary forms of climate and environmental governance. Throughout the course, real-world examples are used to ground and illuminate the material covered in the lectures and classes. Additionally, a half-day field course is included, exploring issues of urban climate change governance in London.

This course provides students with a basic understanding of water and its movements in the landscape around us. Water gives life, but can also be a threat to people and infrastructure. This course studies hydrologic topics from different perspectives. The course covers the flow of surface water, groundwater and soil water, and how these interact with each other and with the atmosphere. The course also covers the hydrological models and how they can be applied to solve everyday problems. Socially important applications such as drinking water supply and flood prevention included as a supplement to course work. The course also includes elements of practical and commercial applications of hydrology.

This course considers how the planet's seas and oceans forge complex connections between people, between communities, and between the human and non-human. Drawing on a humanities tradition of critical interdisciplinary inquiry, it considers how the arts (literary, cinematic, visual, performing) and the sciences (oceanographic, geophysical, ecological) have variously configured coastal, maritime and marine worlds, and reflected changing kinds of economic, colonial, cultural and environmental concerns. The course requires students to develop critical perspectives on oceanic imaginaries of the past, present and future. Course content is provided through a range of teaching and learning modes, variously: illustrated lectures, small group practical exercises, open air field classes, film screenings and student-led debates. Through completion of coursework assignments based on localised case studies and through active engagement in coastal community life and marine environments proximate to Edinburgh, the course will help foster values of social responsibility and sustainability.

Tourism development is (at its name suggests) evaluates the intersection and diversions between development and leisure/tourism. It is intended to be a bridge between the geography department's foundational course in the geographies of tourism (GE2218) and the undergraduate capstone for honors students (GE4218). Conceptual material critiques “big D” globalized approaches to tourism development and the second half of the course responds to these critiques by considering more localized political, economic, and cultural connections in tourism strategies. While localized development projects often suggest more equitable growth, input from local stakeholders, an incorporation of livelihood strategies and grounded knowledge, and more “sustainable” models with a long-term sensibility, the course also takes a critical position toward these ideas. Learning Outcomes Top This module has three objectives: Understand the relationship between tourism and development and how it plays out across different scales; With tourism as both a lens and case study, understand critiques of “big D” development against localized understandings of development; Develop knowledge of the key drivers of tourism as a development strategy, as well as the main effects/outcomes of development. Teaching Modes Top Lectures The module will be delivered via a one hour, 35 minute lecture (every Thursday, 12-2pm, LT9). A handout of the lecture will be uploaded by Tuesday (2 days ahead of the lecture); the handout will contain key lecture material although not everything (diagrams, examples) will be provided. Students are expected to learn to annotate/write-notes as they attend the lectures. Tutorials You are to attend FIVE tutorials on weeks 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12. Each tutorial is structured based on a discussion of a lecture topic (45 minutes), followed by discussion on your Group Project (45 minutes). Tutorial handouts will be uploaded onto IVLE Workbin ahead of each tutorial. Tutorial is compulsory and attendance will be taken. Schedule Top PART I: CONCEPTS and CONTEXTS 1. Introduction to Module; What is Development? 17 January 2. What is Tourism Development? 24 January 3. What is Tourism Development in Singapore? 31 January PART II: DRIVERS of TOURISM DEVELOPMENT 4. State and Government Policies 7 February 5. Capital and Economic Actors 14 February 6. Local Hosts and Community 21 February 7. Asian Middle-Class Market 7 March PART III: EFFECTS of TOURISM DEVELOPMENT 8. Tourism and Urban Change 14 March 9. Tourism and Mythical Landscapes 21 March 10. Guest Speaker on Tourism Career (TBC) 28 March 11. Asian Perspectives on Tourism Development 4 April 12. [No Lecture: all students to focus on Group Presentation during Tutorial 4] 11 April PART IV: CONCLUSION 13. Summary & Examination Review 18 April Assessment Top (1) Examination (60% CA): GE3226 examination is on Tuesday 7 May 2019, 9am (venue to be confirmed). There will be 6 essay questions and you are to attempt 3 answers in 2 hours. (2) Group Project (25% CA): more information will be provided soon, but basically each group must come up with a proposal for a tourism development project in Singapore. Each project group must comprise 5 students from the same tutorial group. You can form groups of your own, or the Tutor can help form groups during Tutorial 1. End product: group presentation at the final Tutorial on Week 12. [Group Presentation on Week 12 = 20%; itinerary for tourist visiting you in Singapore = 5%] (3) Personal Essay (15% CA): more information will be provided soon, but basically each student must write a critical essay reflecting on your group's development proposal above (challenges and negative effects). Submission: hard copy essay on Monday 18 March 2019.

This course introduces the concepts and techniques of geographic data analysis, collectively known as GIS, and their application to spatial problems affecting society. The principles discussed include the nature of spatial data, raster and vector data structure, data transformation and geocoding, modelling techniques, and accuracy evaluation of databases. The course includes a simple project embodying the application of the GIS concept in a real-life situation and develops an understanding of concepts in GIS and database management, GIS functions and limitations, and GIS requirements and application settings.