CS 2024 "Biosphere Entlebuch – Cultures and Environment"

What is the case study?

The transdisciplinary case study is a research-based teaching activity (7 ECTS) that takes place in a real-world setting. Students work independently in groups and learn to formulate research questions, to apply methods of data collection and analysis and to work in an interdisciplinary team and in close dialogue with society.

What wa it about this year?

The case study in the spring semester 2024 was carried out together with the UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch. The general topic was developed together with a local advisory group before the start of semester and served as the starting point for the students' work. To this end, the general topic was analysed, structured and translated into concrete research questions, which were then to be answered.
For example, we asked ourselves what role (agri)cultures and local identity play in the Biosphere Entlebuch and how they relate to and shape the environment, or more generally what role cultures play in sustainability and sustainable land use in particular.

Who was involved?

The following people coached and supported the students in the 2024 case study:

• Prof. Dr Michael Stauffacher (responsible lecturer, co-director TdLab, ETH Zürich)
  
• Florian Knaus, MSc ETH (scientific coordinator, UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch)
  
• Dr Bianca Vienni Baptista (Senior Researcher/Lecturer, TdLab, ETH Zürich)
• Juanita v. Rothkirch, Lorena Kuratle, Ariane Wenger (Doctoral students TdLab)
• Sandro Bösch (administrative, organisational support, TdLab, ETH Zürich)

ZHdK course

During the case study, we were closely collaborating with students and lecturers from the

• Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Master in Transdisciplinarity, Prof. Irene Vögeli and Prof. Patrick Müller

Advisory group

We were supported on site by a local advisory group that met once before (January 2024), once during (March 2024) and once after the semester (fall 2024).

At the first meeting on 24^th January 2024, the advisory board developed and agreed on two thematic blocks as a starting point for the students' work: 1. Local identity; and 2. Landscape development through human activities. The students familiarised themselves with this basis and developed initial ideas for possible research projects, which were discussed and further developed at the meeting on 27^th March 2024.

Students (ETH)

Carmen Affentranger (D-BAUG, Spat. Dev.+Infrastr. Sys. MSc); Livia Baumann (D-USYS, EnvSci MSc); Dominic Becker (D-USYS, EnvSci MSc); Lorie Biderbost (D-USYS, EnvSci MSc); Mario Bielsa Torres (D-USYS, EnvSci MSc); Juliette Galatoire (D-HEST, Health Sciences and Tech. MSc); Isolde Gerosa (D-USYS, AgrSci MSc); Shiila Infriccioli (D-USYS, TdLab); Indrajith Kamalanathan (D-USYS, EnvSci MSc); Karia Kögler (D-USYS, AgrSci MSc); Saskia Lichtin (D-USYS, EnvSci MSc); Madison Molnar (D-USYS, EnvSci MSc); Victoria Morales Bruce (D-USYS, EnvSci MSc); Sarah Rossetti (D-USYS, EnvSci MSc); Paula Winkler (D-USYS, EnvSci MSc)

Students (ZHdK)

Kirill Agafonov (DKV , MA Transdisciplinary Studies-TS); Florian Amoser (DKV , MA TS); Jonas Balmer (DKV , MA TS); Frédéric Bron (DKV , MA TS); Florencia Colombo (DKV , MA Curatorial Studies); Smilla Diener (DKV , MA Cultural Publishing); Alisha Dutt Islam (DKV , MA TS); Anna Lena Eggenberg (DKV , MA TS); Micol Favini (DKV , MA TS); Tsz Hei Fung (DKV , MA TS); Rage Gamma (DKV , MA TS); Kaija Knauer (DKV , MA TS); Charles Kwong (DKV , MA TS); Ludo Lederer (DKV , MA TS); Antonia Orfanou (DDE, MA Interaction Design); Marcel Rickli (DKV , MA TS); Daniel Riniker (DKV , MA TS); Nora Sobbe (DKV , MA TS); Judith Weidmann (DKV , MA TS); Livia Zumofen (DKV , MA TS)