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78112-01 - Colloquium: The Sound of Sustainability: From Theory to Festival - Orchestrating a Greener Music Industry (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Adam Hearn (adam.hearn@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Music may have a critical role in the transition to a culture of sustainability (Wolcott, 2016), raising awareness and inspiring action. Yet paradoxically, the production and consumption of music may also carry significant social and environmental impact (Brennan,2020). This transdisciplinary course explores the intersections between music and sustainability, examining how the music industry impacts the environment and society while also considering how music can inspire ecological awareness and activism. Students will engage with topics such as sustainable touring, eco-friendly instrument and music/video production, music consumption (digitalisation/streaming/CD/LP/Live), soundscapes and biodiversity, and the potential role of music in sustainability. Guest speakers will provide industry-relevant input on specific topics. Emerging from the course and as a culmination of this, a student-organized sustainable music festival will take place. |
| Learning objectives | By the end of this course, students will: 1. Understand the environmental and social impacts of the music industry. 2. Analyse case studies of sustainable music practices. 3. Explore how music can be a tool for environmental advocacy. 4. Develop practical skills in organizing sustainable musical events. 5. Collaborate across disciplines to design and execute a small sustainable music festival. |
| Bibliography | References yet to be determined. Articles: Brennan, M., 2020. The environmental sustainability of the music industries. In Cultural industries and the environmental crisis: New approaches for policy (pp. 37-49). Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-030-49384-4_4?pdf=chapter%20toc Wolcott, S.J., 2016. The role of music in the transition towards a culture of sustainability. Empowering Sustainability International Journal, 3(1). https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4vx624mc Websites: https://climatemusic.org/ https://www.greengathering.org.uk/ https://formidablevegetable.com.au/ |
| Comments | Please note admission requirements. MSD 2017 For students with focus area in social sciences the course is optional for the "Core Competences in Social Scienes" module. The recognition of credit points to the "Focal Areas in Sustainability Research" module (learning agreement) is possible for all MSD students. This course is offered by the MSD. Dr. Adam Hearn, post doc of the Sustainability Research Group, Dep. of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. |
| Admission requirements | Limited number of participants (25), Students of the MSD (incl. MSD preparation semester) and JIDSD have a first priority, those of the listed programs (see list of modules) have a second priority. If you study something different you must do a master's degree within the Department of Social Sciences/Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and may attend the seminar in case of vacancies (= third priority). MSD 2017 We strongly recommend that MSD students who have chosen the focus area in natural sciences or in economics only take this course after having completed at least 8 CP of the “Complementary Knowledge in Social Sciences” module. We recommend that non-MSD (excl. JIDSD) students have already taken one of the following lectures (= credit points already acquired) during a former semester: - 11513: Sustainability: A new Societal Paradigm? - 41829: Perspectives of Social Sciences on Sustainability. If you have not passed either of these classes, you must contact the lecturer until the first day of the teaching period, i.e. in spring semester 2026 until 16. February 2026 at the latest to assess if you have sufficient background knowledge to be admitted. |
| Course application | Please note admission requirements. For details see corresponding section. Course enrollment on online services should be completed by the beginning of the teaching period (withdrawal possible until Monday of teaching week five). |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Monday | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 02.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Monday 09.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Monday 16.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Monday 23.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Monday 30.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Monday 06.04.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Ostern |
| Monday 13.04.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Monday 20.04.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Monday 27.04.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Monday 04.05.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Monday 11.05.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Monday 18.05.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Modules |
Module: Core Competences in Social Sciences (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development) Specialization Module Global Europe: Environment and Sustainability (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Compulsory attendance, required readings, oral presentation, role in sustainable music festival creation, essay-type playbook for festival. Details according to information given at the beginning of the class. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | University of Basel |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Nachhaltigkeitsforschung |