Karin Steen, researcher at LUCSUS, has been appointed as the new Director of Studies for LUMES (International Master Programme in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science).
What will your role as Director of Studies for LUMES entail?
I am responsible for leading the work with the master programme both in everyday practice and in long term developments. That means that I – together with Amanda Elgh who is LUMES’ student coordinator – coordinate the teachers’ teaching as well as admitting students to the programme. I am also responsible for making sure that LUMES continues to be a high quality programme that keeps up to date with the developments in sustainability teaching.
What are you bringing with you from your previous work as a researcher and teacher?
From my research I bring an interest in gender issues and theories – it is I who coordinate the gender and sustainability elective course. My research on sub-Saharan Africa makes me especially interested in sustainability issues in global South. From my teaching experience I bring an interest in pedagogy.
What excites you about the appointment?
I have been a teacher on and off in LUMES for many years and followed the programme. Now I will have the possibility invest a lot of time and energy together with other engaged colleagues to develop the programme.
How would you like to develop LUMES?
As part of my interest in pedagogy I would like be part of making the learning environment in LUMES the best one can get. In the course gender and sustainability we practice feminist pedagogy. There are many teachers in LUMES who are interested in pedagogy and together with them and the students I would like to explore what interdisciplinary pedagogy can be: is there such a thing and if so, how do we practice it to produce interdisciplinary knowledge? Another thing I want to develop in LUMES is the methodology training. The methodology teaching is divided and integrated into each course. In theory it is a good idea to learn methodology by practicing it in relation to what you learn in the courses. We are now revising what method and methodology training is most important to teach in LUMES, when and how.
Can you mention three things you are interested in (outside work) that we didn’t know about?
I love sewing costumes and garniture and wear them at parties, I experiment and develop recipes for cooking with Nordic seaweed (to my children’s aggravation), and I have an amateur bartender diploma!