Author Archives: Katja

thoughts from a session: Fostering complexity thinkers

Almost every session I went to at the PECS conference gave me something new to think about, and I took a lot of notes also from the sessions I was not assigned to blog about. They’re all a jumble now, both notes and impressions, and I can’t really trace them back to a specific sessionContinue reading “thoughts from a session: Fostering complexity thinkers”

interlude: My take on transdisciplinary and sustainability science

While writing my final posts about the PECS conference, I realised some background explanations were needed. So I started writing. And the paragraphs just grew and grew, until I realised I probably should turn them into a post of their own – so as not to overload you with text! So here you go, someContinue reading “interlude: My take on transdisciplinary and sustainability science”

thoughts from a session: Teaching sustainability science

[Written for and posted on the official PECSII blog on November 23] Transforming the way we think about education – Reflections from Friday innovative and immersive session “Educating ‘glocally’: place-based research in international sustainability-education” The last day of the conference, just before lunch, I attend a small immersive session on education in sustainability science. Chair,Continue reading “thoughts from a session: Teaching sustainability science”

thoughts from a session: Socio-cultural valuation of ecosystem services

[Written for and posted on the official PECSII blog on November 14] My morning walk: Socio-cultural alternatives to valuating ecosystem services – Reflections from Thursday parallell session “Socio-cultural valuation of ecosystem services” I have just moved apartments. From my new place, I can walk to work. Every morning a path through a little grove ofContinue reading “thoughts from a session: Socio-cultural valuation of ecosystem services”

thoughts from a session: Opening plenary

[Written for and posted on the official PECSII blog on November 8] Power assymetries and global finance: Embracing conflict and connecting with unexpected alliances – Reflections from first plenary on “The role of place-based research for global sustainability and how global drivers affect place” Wednesday morning at Hotel Misión de los Angeles. The air isContinue reading “thoughts from a session: Opening plenary”

the second conference of the programme of ecosystem change and society

I was not in Mexico to get overwhelmed by the celebrations of the dead, to visit temples or even to learn how to cook a proper mole colorado. I was there to attend a scientific conference. The second conference of the Programme of Ecosystem Change and Society, or PECSII for short. PECS is a researchContinue reading “the second conference of the programme of ecosystem change and society”

the care in cooking

Oaxaca is famous for its cuisine. Therefore, I excitedly accepted the offer to join a cooking class together with a couple of my colleagues one day before the conference started. The classes are run by a woman whose in-laws run a bed and breakfast where my colleagues were staying, and are held in the outdoorContinue reading “the care in cooking”

the ethnobotanic garden of Oaxaca

I was so excited about the ethnobotanical garden in Oaxaca. It is one of the top sites in the city and it’s an ETHNObotanic garden. Ethnobotany has become one of my academic side interests ever since my visit to Burkina Faso, so I was seriously pumped about this place. And then I arrived, and realisedContinue reading “the ethnobotanic garden of Oaxaca”

cold chocolate and the inspiration of the vagabond

I found a favorite café in Oaxaca. A chocolate place, only big enough to fit three small tables and the counter, squeezed into the one storey building opposite the Santo Domingo church and walls of the ethnobotanical garden. The floors had earth-red tiles and the cold cardamom chocolate that they served was divine. I don’tContinue reading “cold chocolate and the inspiration of the vagabond”