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43667-01 - Seminar: Changing (Individual) Energy Behaviour (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | Iljana Schubert (iljana.schubert@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Transforming today’s energy systems in industrialized countries includes a substantial reduction of the total energy consumption at the individual level. Selected instruments have been found to be effective in changing people’s behaviour in single domains, however, households seem to be quite inert in their energy consumption. Although small process has been made to reduce the overall energy consumption this is not enough. In addition, our understanding of the determining factors of individual energy consumption as well as of its change is growing but still far from being conclusive. In this seminar, we think about households or individuals of consumers of energy services rather than energy consumers per se. This viewpoint widens the horizon to also include people's („socially constructed“) wants. We will introduce different disciplinary approaches from the field of changing individual energy behaviour and also different domains of behaviour change to clarify the diverging perceptions of the opportunities to change behaviour. For example, in economics, energy is often seen as a commodity and consumers will adapt usage in response to price signals. In psychology, on the other hand, energy use is understood as being affected by norms, values and perceived ability to change behaviour, to name a few mechanisms for promoting change. Sociology is often not looking at individuals but at practices displaying social meanings in relation to „materials", for example. Having revealed strengths and weaknesses of these different approaches we will look at an interdisciplinary framework which integrates the different perspectives and think about how inter- and transdisciplinary research can advance the field and changes in society. Finally, we will further investigate and discuss the prospects and limitations of different intervention and governance strategies (on multiple levels) that are directed at changing individual energy behaviour. Through real-world case studies and expert presentations, the series provides insights into strategies for individual (and community-level) energy behavior change. |
| Learning objectives | You will - learn disciplinary approaches about changing individual energy behaviour from economics, psychology, sociology etc.; - understand the benefits and the necessity of interdisciplinary (and transdisciplinary) approaches to understand individual energy behaviour and it’s change; - be able to identify different intervention and governance strategies to change individual energy behaviour; - apply your understanding through activities in seminars and a personal project developed across the different seminar session. |
| Bibliography | tba in class |
| Comments | Please note entry requirements, details in section "Admission requirements" (Teilnahmevoraussetzungen). MSD students (both curricula) This is an optional course.The recognition of credit points is possible for the published module or with a learning agreement for the "FASR" module (MSD 2017), or for the "Electives" (MSD 2026). This seminar is offered by the MSD. Dr. Iljana Schubert is a member of the Sustainability Research Group, Dep. of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, she holds a teaching assignment. |
| Admission requirements | Limited number of participants (25). Students of the MSD (incl. preparation semester) and IJDSD have a first priority. Students 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). 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 fall semester 2026 until 14. September 2026 at the latest to assess if you have sufficient background knowledge to be admitted. MSD students (both curricula) MSD students who have chosen the focus area (MSD 2017)/(without) major (MSD 2026) in natural sciences or in economics (and management) must more or less have completed the “Complementary Knowledge in Social Sciences” module. |
| Course application | Course enrollment on online services should be completed by the beginning of the teaching period, at the latest until 14. September 2026. Withdrawal possible until Monday of teaching week five. Please note entry requirements, details in section "Admission requirements" (Teilnahmevoraussetzungen). |
| 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
| Modules |
Module: Complementary Knowledge Social Sciences (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development) Module: Core Competences in Social Sciences (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development (Start of studies before 01.08.2026)) Module: Resources and Sustainability (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources (Start of studies before 01.08.2026)) Module: Topics and Methods in Sustainable Development: 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 | Regular attendance, required reading, oral presentation, written essay. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | University of Basel |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Nachhaltigkeitsforschung |