Jonathan Masin-Peters (Social Studies)
First-Year Seminar 73N (Spring Term) Enrollment limited to 15
Thursday, 3:00-5:00 PM CANVAS SITE
You are part of the so-called “pivotal generation”—those with a critical opportunity to prevent the worst effects of climate change. While carbon emissions continue to rise, a narrow window for action remains. What options are available for responding to climate change and the unequal burdens it creates? This course explores three major pathways: (1) Mitigation—drastically reducing fossil fuel emissions; (2) Adaptation—responding to the climate disruptions already underway; and (3) Compensation—providing relief and repair for communities suffering loss and damages.
We’ll engage with activist manifestos (Extinction Rebellion), key texts (Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò’s Reconsidering Reparations), UN reports (IPCC), urban plans (Cambridge Climate Action Plan 2018), film clips, and field trips. Our “multi-scalar” approach examines how climate action unfolds at different levels—from grassroots to global institutions. Each unit includes a visit to a research site on Harvard’s campus (library, media studio, art museum), where we will gain greater insight into mitigation, adaptation, and compensation. Weekly assignments will help you build your academic writing skills. For the final project, you’ll choose between writing an academic essay or interviewing a local activist or scholar using Harvard’s podcasting facilities.
Through small-group work, seminar discussions, and experiential learning, this first-year seminar will strengthen your writing and communication skills, deepen your understanding of climate justice, and connect classroom learning with real-world action in the Northeastern U.S.