Ecological transition: theory and practice I

This course is the first part of a year-long programme, followed in the spring semester by the course "Ecological transition: theory and practice II". It enables students to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge about the challenges related to sustainability and to the ecological and social transition, as well as essential skills in interdisciplinary work, systems thinking, and complex problem-solving. No prior knowledge is required; the course is designed to progressively equip each participant.

Semester 1 (Ecological transition: theory and practice I):

This first semester is structured in two complementary parts aimed at providing students with a solid theoretical framework before launching an applied research project.
The theoretical part of the semester is devoted to the interdisciplinary exploration of the challenges of the ecological and social transition. After an introduction to the organisation of the course and to the key concepts of the transition, the sessions address current topics such as the decline of biodiversity and conservation strategies, the climate emergency and carbon neutrality, as well as the social foundations of the "Doughnut" model. The political and energy-related dimension is examined through an analysis of Swiss public policies on mitigation and adaptation, the study of sustainable business models, and a reflection on the democratic governance of the energy transition. These topics are illustrated with concrete examples in various sectors (mobility, energy, consumption) and enriched by contributions from experts as well as field trips, notably on agricultural and energy-related themes. The practical part of the course invites students to focus on a particular aspect of the challenges and implementation of the transition. They will benefit from a session dedicated to survey and interview methods and will work in groups on concrete questions proposed by transition stakeholders from the UNIL-EPFL campus and other local external partners. In collaboration with the latter the groups will work on precisely identifying the research problem, mapping the stakeholders, and establishing a rigorous work plan. The aim of this semester is to finalise the definition of the research problem and the research methodology, thereby laying the foundations of the project for the second semester.

Semester 2 (Ecological transition: theory and practice II):

The second semester will be entirely devoted to deepening and finalising the group projects in the field. Students will continue to work on their ecological and/or socio-economic transition project, building on the work begun during the first semester.
They will be led to deepen their analysis of the challenges and stakeholders, and to identify the opportunities and obstacles associated with the project, in order to assess its possible future developments and to formulate recommendations. These analyses should be carried out as close as possible to the realities on the ground, drawing where relevant on direct exchanges with the stakeholders involved. Students are also expected to demonstrate creativity by proposing innovative solutions to the problems identified.
Exchanges fostering the sharing of experiences between the different groups may also be organised so as not to lose sight of the overall, systemic vision of the transition. The final sessions of the semester will be devoted to presenting the projects.