The University of Victoria was established in 1963. It is located in Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (northeast of Victoria) with an enrollment of more than 19,000 students.
Courses
Plants and People (Biology 334)
Plants as sources of food, fiber, drugs, and industrial raw materials from historical and contemporary perspectives. Aspects of plant growth, development, physiology, genetics and pathology, particularly as they relate to the economic uses of plants.
Ethnoecology (ES 321)
Environmental knowledge systems of indigenous and other local peoples are increasingly recognized as having relevance in understanding and documenting biological diversity and conservation and in undertaking ecological restoration. The different aspects of local and traditional ecological knowledge and their relationships to western academic knowledge are reviewed and the issues and requirements for applying local knowledge in environmental sustainability are explored.
Environmental Topics: Topics in Ethnoecology (ES 381)
An in-depth systematic examination of specific environmental areas through seminars and projects; the development of appropriate responses to questions and problems within the selected areas; modes of interaction and communication with professional and community groups; application of theory to practice; qualitative vs. quantitative research methods. This course will be conducted as a seminar and may include a field trip for which a fee will be charged.
Urban Ethnoecology (ES 429)
Cultural understandings of ecosystems and knowledge of interactions between human activities and human habitats in urban settings. Explores the ways city dwellers understand and interact with urban and peri-urban habitats. Surveys the intersections between people and place in cities from an ethnoecological perspective to inform and contribute to initiatives to create sustainable cities.
Ethnobotany: Plants and Human Cultures (ES 421)
An introduction to the study of the relationship between plants and human cultures, with a focus on the indigenous peoples and environments of northwestern North America. Use of plants as foods, materials and medicines, plant nomenclature and folk classification, and the role of plants in religion and mythology are topics covered. There will be one or more field trips.
Advanced Environmental Topics in Ethnoecology (ES 481)
A focused, in-depth systematic examination of specific environmental areas through seminars and projects; the development of appropriate responses to questions and problems within the selected areas; modes of interaction and communication with professional and community groups; application of theory to practice; and qualitative vs. quantitative research methods. These courses will be conducted as seminars and may include a field trip for which a fee will be charged.
Seminar in Ethnoecology (ES 581)
Flexible topics course offered in a seminar format.
Other Links
Faculty
Patrick Von Aderkas (Biology Department)
Nancy J. Turner (Environmental Studies & Geography)
Modules
School of Environmental Studies: The Three Pillars
Ethnoecology; ethnobotanical and environmental knowledge of Indigenous Peoples of British Columbia, and its implications and applications in conservation biology; community forest use; forest and environmental policy; parks protected areas; and environmental and cultural health and restoration.