School's on again. And I'm excited again.
The social setting is remarkably different this time 'round. Whereas first classes last semester were silent and timid and awkward before and after class, now you can barely hear each other talk--it's like a crowded bar except that no one's picking each other up in any icky ways. We're all familiar faces, at least, and even if we never spoke before it's somehow easy now. And for those who've become friends, it's like we haven't seen each other in ages, even though it hasn't been long. It's loads more fun now.
My class options are pretty great this semester too. Here's what I think I'm taking (in order of enthusiasm I have for them):
Sustainability and the Agri-food System - consumption habits, social history and trends around food and family, health issues, school meals and kids' attitudes to food, loss of food and cooking skills in some societies, food travel and embodied energy and cost, local food movements, organic and other alternative production models, supply chain and food processing issues, and on and on and on.
Globalisation and the Local Labour Market--youth and other exclusion in slowing job markets and the long-term consequences of that, the position of education, training and credentials in hiring, job security--how real is the problem and how does anxiety affect the labour market, etc., in addition to the obvious job relocation to other countries issues
Governance and Equity in Europe--descusses regionalism and devolution of decisionmaking, which while specific to the EU are interesting concepts and ones that are definitely in play in the food policy world. (Also other things. But I haven't been to this class yet.) AND it's taught by the illustrious back-from-sabbatical professor.
Environmental Law
Sustainability in Practice
Research Methods and Dissertation Design
The ones I think I'm not taking, but I plan to sit in on anyway, are:
Corporate Environmental Management
Environmental Management in Practice.
Tell me you're not jealous. I won't believe you, because I can't imagine not being, though I guess there are people with different interests and you, dear Reader, might be one of them.
Posted by at February 1, 2006 04:04 PMI want to take Sustainability and the Agri-food system! Can I get a crash course in April?
Posted by: corey at February 1, 2006 10:53 PMI'm very jealous. I'm hoping that between your blog and Josh's I'll be able to pick up at least a few tidbits of information from these courses.
I sort of miss how much smarter I was when I was in college and could cite a lot of actual research about shit, and not feel like I was just spouting my untested opinion.
Posted by: DG at February 1, 2006 11:43 PM