EHS4060 – Science Fiction and the Environment

Science Fiction often focuses its attention on the environment, especially through the subgenre of climate fiction that deals with anthropogenic climate change and its effects on the lives of ordinary people and communities. SF and Climate Fiction are often dystopian and apocalyptic, addressing issues of environmental justice, resilience, and survival. They are closely connected to our ideas and anxieties about environmental futures and our ability to survive in the face of ongoing and expected climate disasters, including extreme weather events, famines, droughts, pandemics, rising sea levels, and biodiversity loss. Yet, there are also examples of hopeful environmental science fiction, such as in the genre of solarpunk, which emphasizes human resourcefulness in creating more sustainable and environmentally just futures.

The course explores these themes through film, text, and games, as well as hands-on practical workshops in which students are guided to craft climate fiction of their own.

By taking this course, you will:

• understand environmental science fiction and its relation to genres such as climate realism.
• gain insight into real-world climate issues and contemporary artistic treatment of climate futures in both dystopian and hopeful modes.
• learn how to look at similar climate issues through a transmedial lens.
• explore how organizations such as the UN are using climate fiction to encourage climate action.
• practice crafting their own climate fiction.

This course is part of the Honours Certificate in Environmental Humanities and Society (honours certificate)..

Students enrolled in Master's Degree Programmes can be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

The course is be held over six weeks.

Weeks 1-4 will consist of sessions including presentations of key environmental themes, work with reading materials, student presentations, and discussions. These are accompanied by compulsory preparatory reading and preparation of short student presentations/interventions.

Weeks 5-6 will consist of workshops, with students working in collaborative teams to develop a climate futures artefact.

Compulsory activity

1. Compulsory attendance: You are required to attend 80% of the seminar teaching. In this course, you must attend 5 out of 6 seminars.

This course requires at least 80% attendance. This requirement is absolute.

The absence limit should cover normal absences due to illness, etc. You will therefore not be granted a valid excused absence based on a medical certificate, even if the absence is due to circumstances for which you cannot be blamed.

In special cases, for example, in the event of serious or long-term illness, you can apply for special needs accomodations. For questions about special needs accommodations, please contact studentinfo@ikos.uio.no

• Here you will find information about compulsory activities at the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

It is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules regarding absence from compulsory activities, to prevent being excluded from teaching and losing your eligibility to take the exam.

More information on compulsory activities at the University of Oslo:

• Common guidelines relating to compulsory activities - University of Oslo (uio.no)

Portfolio

The assignment consists of two parts:

1. a creative submission (a new climate fiction authored specifically for the course)
2. a short reflection paper that discusses the creative submission (1-2 pages)

Requirements for the creative submission:

1. Text: maximum 3 pages.
2. Video or audio: max 5 minutes.
3. Interactive media: maximum 30 minutes playtime.

One standard page is approximately 2300 characters without spaces, including references. The front page and bibliography are not included in the page count.

AI Policy: AI use is not permitted for the final assignment.

The topic/detailed information regarding the exam format will be announced on Canvas.

You are personally responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements and deadlines for the exam.

All compulsory activities must be completed and approved in order to take the exam.

You can find more information about the exam on the semester page of the course.