How do we learn to listen to water, to thermal springs, to rain and to rivers? To volcanoes, to trees and to flowers? Throughout this course we will listen to each other, to the voices of environmental activists, artists, scientists, community leaders and visionaries. But most importantly, we will listen to plants, birds, frogs, rivers, and water, to our more-than-human kin.
During the travel segment in Ecuador, we will listen to rivers throughout the country, participate in a minga (communal river ritual and clean-up) on the banks of the Rio San Pedro, learn about Ecuador’s historic success in establishing the Rights of Nature as well as what it means to work in collective, soak in healing volcanic springs, witness the beauty and empathy of birds, plants and animals, celebrate the Jewish holiday of trees Tu B'shvat in the Yasuni Nature Reserve (the most biodiverse corner of the Amazon, newly protected from oil exploration and extraction), hear about innovative projects that interweave ancestral knowledge and science, visit the once pristine and now poisoned rivers of Lisa’s childhood town (named for Shell Oil), contemplate sultry volcanoes soak in Tungurahua’s turmeric colored healing waters, while listening to Nature and to fascinating people, raising provocative questions, eating great food, and engaging in transformative conversations.
This course will meet for 6 online sessions over the course of the winter semester and will culminate in a group trip to Ecuador (Quito and the Yasuni Reserve), __ January – __ February, 2026. Costs for travel to and within Ecuador must be paid by each participant.
Class Online, 6 Thursdays, 90 min.
12:00 UTC-5 (= 19.00 CET)
Dates:
23.10.25
6.11.25
20.11.25
4.12.25
18.12.25
15.1.26
A final project that will take the form of a research paper, short film or video, graphic work (comic), PowerPoint presentation, etc. (7.000 characters min.), on a topic chosen by the student in coordination with the instructor. Group collaboration is possible. Regardless of format, the presentation must have both a descriptive and analytical component.
