The classes will deal with the history of urban agriculture and garden cultures, for example from the old Persian world and the ancient cultures from Asia, Europe, North and South America. The students will follow in the footsteps of Alexander von Humboldt, who attempted to explain nature in its complexity through his research trips within Europe, South and North America, and Asia at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries.
The course will discuss the history, current role and the future of urban gardening locally and worldwide. Por example the urban gardening movement that has its obstacles to be involved in the concepts of smart, clean, compact and global cities.
max. 18 participants
Participants will receive 6 ECTS credit points and a certificate if they attend classes regularly (at least 80% attendance) and participate actively. Additionally, six weeks after the end of the course a Transcript of Records is issued by Humboldt-Universität.
In the age of climate change and mega urbanization, urban green and gardening, providing multiple functions and benefits to cities and their biodiversity and dwellers all season long. The course shows and discusses new perspectives of how cities can be developed greener, sustainable and resilient.
The courses are grouped into different time tracks.Your course will take place in "Track B".
Cultural activitiesHUWISU offers a fine selection of interesting extra-curricular activities and aims to give all participants an unforgettable stay in Berlin. Your program includes excursions, sport activities and social gatherings providing you the opportunity to get to know the city, the university and to meet students from all parts of the world. The costs for these offers are included in the course fees.
Activities and tours we offer regularly: Federal Chancellery, German Parliament, House of Representatives, Topography of Terror, Political Archive, Museum Island, Kreuzberg Tour, Daytrip to Potsdam, Exhibitions…
Undergraduate students of all subjects with an academic background that qualifies them to participate in the course.
This course is taught in English, including readings in English. For the understanding of the texts and the discussions in class a language level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required.
Participating students need to be at least 18 years old.
Mr. Volker Minks holds a master’s degree in agricultural engineering from Humboldt Unversität zu Berlin with specialization in urban gardening, landscape design and sustainable urban planning. Mr. Minks has worked in interdisciplinary research projects in the areas of urban agriculture and horticulture, green technology, innovation and sustainable urban planning in Germany, the United States, Cuba, India and Brazil.
Since 2011 he has been the coordinator and lecturer for the course "Land in the City, Green in the City". He works with specialists from different fields and Professors from the Life Sciences Faculty at the Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. In Brazil he is affiliated with the Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" (ESALQ) and Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FAU) of the University of Sao Paulo (USP).
His research is related to the ecological, economic and social benefits of green areas and urban agriculture in big cities as ecosystems, especially in the context of adapting and mitigating climate change. In 2011 he worked as coordinator for the C40 Sao Paulo Large Cities - Climate Summit and co-produced the publication - Building Sustainable Cities. He organized cooperation between USP and Humboldt with several KOSMOS Workshops: Berlin meets Sao Paulo: Cities for all – livable and sustainable.
Since 2014 he has been a part of the Cátedra José Bonifácio of the Ibero-American Center (CIBA USP), dealing with the challenges of Latin America in the areas of international governance, trade, negotiations, security, energy, sustainable education, innovation and environment. He is part of the Global Institute for Peace (GLIP USP) at the University of Sao Paulo. Working in projects with balance of gender and diversity, sustainability and peace, green infrastructure, ESG, nature as well with the indigenous populations to promote preservation of biodiversity, food security and culture.
