The course introduces students to the multispecies approaches in social sciences, and particularly to emerging subfield of tourism research concerned with the interconnectedness of tourism and more-than-human world. The aim of the course is to create understanding on multispecies issues in the tourism industry, and to reflect on issues of mutual care and wellbeing in the midst of ecological crises. The course also encourages students to be able to make connections with other fields of research as well as other contemporary issues. Core questions being raised through the course include: What is changed when perspectives are shifted towards ideas of multispecies wellbeing in tourism contexts? What are the implications, challenges, and opportunities of this change e.g. for tourism development?
After completion of the course the student is able to
- identify research themes relevant to multispecies studies
- iIdentify stakeholders engaged in multispecies wellbeing in tourism contexts
- describe current challenges, blind spots, or areas of interest within the wider field of tourism when discussing multispecies wellbeing
- analyse the current methods, methodologies, or approaches towards considering multispecies wellbeing within tourism
- critically reflect on tourism ethics from multispecies perspectives.