Why this course in Applied Ecology?

What makes the RAiSE ecology course special is its practical hands-on approach, its integration and celebration of fungal mycelial ecology, its transdisciplinarity, international and multi-lingual learning, based on trans-cultural inclusive mutual aid. You will learn to apply ecology as the study of relationship within biological systems which encompasses relationships between biological living components of ecosystems at every scale, as well as the non-living abiotic factor fluctuations within which living systems operate. You will undertake a psychological journey through the evolutionary history of symbiotic relationships. You will learn how to apply ecology as a weltanschauung (world view) across disciplines spanning arts and sciences, economics, agriculture, and architecture. You will learn how to 'Grow local cook global' and apply ecology to solve existential crises at local scales attuned to site-specifics. In so doing, your project can provide local pathways to truly restorative, regenerative, sustainable development. 

 

Master's level tuition with hands-on experiential learning:

The 10-day practical hands-on field ecology residential module takes place at the beginning of a part-time, flexible 9-month Arts and Ecology Masters-level program culminating in your own applied ecology community project. The initial field ecology module occurs at the RAiSE ecology venue in rural France. Here, amongst the woodlands, fields, and natural waterways, you will meet the RAiSE ecology team both face to face and virtually, and begin your ecological retuning and attuning journey in nature with other species. Because the current political socio-economic system is out of tune with nature, attuning in nature through international community solidarity represents a strategic way to deliver system change towards and beyond

the UN 17 SDG's.

 

Field Studies Residential Module:

This initial module; an international transdisciplinary ecology intensive, will provide a 10-day trans-cultural, multi-lingual grounding in both practical and philosophical mycology, ecology, biodiversity mapping and conservation, and biologically-inspired art, performance and design. There will be hands-on introductions to citizen science and community arts practices, as well as space for theoretical and philosophical conversations toward the practical implementation of genuine sustainable development.

 

RAiSE residential accommodation:

At the RAiSE ecology residential, you will be staying in simple, sustainable, rustic accommodation consisting of a sleeping barn, a shared kitchen and dining room, and a classroom space. If you prefer your own private space, you are welcome to bring a tent and sleeping bag or a hammock.

 

RAiSE residential 10-day program:

The program of the residential ecology module includes practical skills-based learning mornings and afternoons, with more of a theoretical and philosophical curriculum. There will be space for reflection and conversation. Mornings will be experiential, practical and hands-on, followed by communal lunch, with afternoons documenting findings, discussing ideas, and developing theoretical frameworks. Evenings will be for conversations, answering questions from the day, and entertainment.  The first part of the residential will consist of orientation to location, site, and space. This will be followed by developing techniques of deep observation and ecological inquiry, consisting of fieldwork, which will feed into developing techniques of both investigating and enhancing the mutually symbiotic inter-specific relationships that can help you on your re-tuning to nature pathway.

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RAiSE ecology mini-project:

Towards the end of the ecology residential, you will apply your knowledge and understanding of nature and sustainability to an attuning to nature mini-project, which will help you towards the more extensive RAiSE project that you will start on your return home.

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Post-residential flexible virtual learning:

After your return home, the course will continue with a rota of weekly tutorials online, covering a broad range of topics related to science, art, sustainability, and ecosystem regeneration, to help you to progress your community project and its documentation. You will gain access to a broad range of ecological science and arts topics and resources to help with your community project through the virtual learning environment (VLE); access to which is activated once you enrol as a student. 

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Community Project:

Your community project will interweave the three themes of biodiversity, agriculture and climate. Projects will be compiled in a virtual gallery, and assessed, and based on this, RAiSE ecology certificates in Applied Ecology will be obtained on course completion. Participants will be invited to present their projects at the following year's residential either face-to-face or virtually. It is envisaged that a mutually supportive network of like-minded projects could develop in different countries over time.