AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the module students will be able to

Identify the main elements and factors behind the structure of rural areas and their geographical differentiation

Identify the main physical-geographical and socio-economic phenomena of rural areas with reference to the evolution of agro-food production 

Analyse and elaborate information and data through the analysis of documentary (scientifc literature, cartography) and field data

Track links between rural landscapes and associated agro-food production 

Extend geographical vocabulary and be able to produce an oral presentation and written work on topics related to rural geography 

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of lectures in presence (50%) and online (50%) and will be aimed at exposing and discussing the main notions of rural geography and its applications on a Mediterranean and regional scale

The materials used during the lessons will be uploaded on Aulaweb as well as other materials such as: reports, links to databases, reference and supplementary texts to those indicated in the bibliography.

Some didactic field visits will be carried out, aimed at developing specific case studies through geographical investigation techniques presented in class and meetings and interviews with stakeholders.

The final part of the course will be devoted to the preparation and exposition of teamworks on specific projects developed by attending students. 

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Federico Scarpa (federico.scarpa@unige.it  ), the Polytechnic School's disability liaison.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The programme consists of three parts

FIRST PART: Introduction to rural geography, concepts and themes, main metholodolgical approaches, research tools, Rural areas in Italy and in the Mediterranean, Environmental and socio-economical processes with particular reference to agro-food productions

SECOND PART: Rural areas of Liguria. Analysis of geo-historical evolutiona and landscape dynamic (depopulation of mountain areas, urbanisatio of valley floors, loss of agricultural production). Analysis of the current situation (rewilding processes, hydrogeological risk, recent cases of "return to the land", enhancement of local productions)

THIRD PART: Teamworks (3.5 people) on significant case studies (to be defined based on themes developed in class). Teamworks will be presented in class and a written work will have to be produced. Both the presentation and written work will be assessed as part of the examination for attending students 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Attending

- . Materials uploaded on Aulaweb, integrated by contents provided in class by the teacher and elaborated through written notes

-  As an integration to Aulaweb contents, attending students will have to prepare some chapters of Situating foodways and foodscapes (ed. Roberta Cevasco, Valentina Pescini e Robert Hearn, Genoa University Press, 2023 (chapters will be indicated by the lecturer) 

Non-attending 

- Materials uploaded on Aulaweb

- As an integration to Aulaweb contents, attending students will have to prepare some chapters of Situating foodways and foodscapes (ed. Roberta Cevasco, Valentina Pescini e Robert Hearn, Genoa University Press, 2023 (chapters will be indicated by the lecturer) 

- Non attending students will also have to prepare the following text: Emilio Sereni, Storia del Paesaggio Agrario Italiano (Laterza, 1961 o late editions) 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

PIETRO PIANA (President)

GIACOMO ZANOLIN (President)

LORENZO BROCADA

LEONARDO PORCELLONI

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

 The exam will take place in oral form. Although presented in class, work groups by attending students will be part of the oral exam

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam will allow you to evaluate:

- mastery of knowledge;

- the ability to use the principles and methods of the discipline  in the analysis of regional territorial problems considered at different scales (from local to global)

Evaluation criteria are:

- the quality of the exhibition;

- the correct use of the disciplinary lexicon;

- the ability of critical analysis:

- the precise knowledge of the concepts that are an integral part of the topics covered.

Exam schedule