Rural geography studies the people, places, and landscapes of rural areas, as well as the social and economic processes that shape these geographies. In an educational context, we will particularly focus on defining the rural landscape as a product of geographical-physical and socio-economic dynamics, with special attention to the Ligurian and Mediterranean contexts.
This course aims to provide students with the tools to analyze and interpret the main phenomena currently shaping rural areas across the Mediterranean, with a specific focus on the territorial and landscape dynamics of the Ligurian mountains. The genesis and diversification of rural landscapes are intrinsically linked to a system of agro-silvo-pastoral practices that have almost entirely disappeared due to the depopulation of inland areas. By examining specific case studies characterized by the coexistence of cultural landscapes and local productions, students will gain the skills necessary to identify effective strategies for territorial development and enhancement in the field of sustainable agri-food production within rural contexts.
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
Expand their geographical vocabulary and be able to prepare an oral presentation and a written paper on topics related to rural geography.
The course consists of asynchronous online lessons dedicated to the exposition and discussion of the main notions of rural geography and its applications at the Mediterranean, national, and regional scales. Integrative in-person classroom activities are also planned.
Materials used during the lessons will be uploaded to Aulaweb, as will other materials such as: reports, links to databases, reference texts, and supplementary materials to those indicated in the bibliography.
The final part of the course will be dedicated to the preparation and presentation of group projects developed by attending students.
Students with a valid physical or learning disability certification on file with the University who wish to discuss any accommodations or other circumstances related to lectures, courses, and exams should speak with both the lecturer and Prof. Federico Scarpa (federico.scarpa@unige.it), the Polytechnic School's disability liaison
Part One
Introduction to rural geography: concepts and themes, main methodological approaches, research tools. Rural areas in Italy and the Mediterranean. Current environmental and socio-economic processes with particular reference to agri-food production.
Part Two
Rural areas of Liguria: Analysis of geographical-historical evolution and landscape dynamics (depopulation of mountain areas, urbanization of valley floors, contraction of agricultural production). Analysis of the current situation (renaturalization, hydrogeological risk, recent cases of "return to the land," enhancement of local products).
Part Three
Group projects (groups of 3-5 people) on representative case studies (chosen by students based on topics developed in class). Group projects will be presented in class and must be developed in the form of a short thesis, subject to evaluation during the exam for attending students.
Attending Students:
Non-Attending Students:
https://corsi.unige.it/en/corsi/11758/studenti-orario
Written examination (open-ended questions).
The questions are formulated to assess both the degree of comprehension of theoretical notions and the ability to reason using these notions. Questions on theoretical concepts will help to assess the level of understanding. Questions which require the elaboration of a reasoning will make it possible to assess the level of competence and the autonomy of judgement acquired by the student.
