Speaking week four

The future of urbanisation

Preparation work for live session

In preparation for this discussion, watch and make notes on this documentary on population growth by the awesome Hans Rosling (1948-2017). Having said that, we've watched a lot this week so please consider this optional independent study. How about this: watch the first ten minutes and if you're not completely hooked and end up watching all of it then everyone gets free frappuccinos .*

*empty promise.

Stage 1: take turns to present your views. Stage 2: Discuss together and respond to each other's views. Stage 3: try to reach an agreement.

Live session - seminar discussion

The current rate of urbanisation is unsustainable and we need a new solution to accommodate future populations. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

By now you're familiar with the layout and sequence of seminar discussions. Form new groups, preferably with people you haven't worked with so far, and compare your views on the seminar question. Incorporate references to the documentaries we've watched this week to support your arguments, and wherever possible, look to formulate predictions and recommendations.

Live session - additional discussion

The city world of Trantor was created by the legendary science fiction writer Isaac Asimov. An entirely urbanised planet, it was the administrative capital of a galactic empire. It anticipated the fate of a world entirely covered in metal and glass: crippling energy demands and entirely dependent on other planets for food and resources. It was, predictably, unsustainable, and eventually fell into decay. As the metal casing of the buildings was stripped away and sold, soil and arable land was again revealed and the planet returned to farming as the population fell from hundreds of billions to a few hundred million.

What would be the advantages of living on a city planet in the heart of a galactic empire?
Would you consider moving there for work?

Image from Asguard: http://forum.asguard-serv.com/t/guild-of-researchers-the-era-of-the-trantor/1696 , Ferrebeekeper, available to https://ferrebeekeeper.wordpress.com/tag/trantor/ and Pieiesudominedonaeisrequiem https://imgur.com/gallery/JSSLQ

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