Spring 2005, University of Washington, Tacoma
Michael Kucher, Ph.D.
Industrialized societies face an ecological crisis that challenges
the existing model of one-way materials flow. Spanning topics
from "garbage" to "green
manufacturing,"
this course will use an interdisciplinary approach to trace changing
perceptions
and practices regarding cast-off materials. Starting with theoretical
questions
regarding the nature of "disposal," we will retrace its history from
the
Stone Age to the Information Age. Along the way we will pay close
attention
to the economic, cultural, and environmental impact of waste disposal.
Finally, we will use William McDonough and M.
Braungart, Cradle to Cradle:
Remaking the Way We Make Things) as a basis
from which to discuss possible futures of "waste" in a
sustainable
economy. Each student will write a 15 page research paper addressing
an aspect of the history of waste management, garbage, rubbish,
recycling, or a related topic.
Updated: 27 March 2005
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