The module, IP315: A Sustainable Serenissima, taught by Dr Bryan Brazeau (Associate Professor, Liberal Arts), focused on a transdisciplinary and transhistorical approach to the complex problem of Sustainability in Venice as a case study for broader global issues. Students explored questions concerning cultural sustainability in the face of mass tourism, ecological sustainability of the lagoon ecosystem in light of increasing pollution and climate change, the issue of increasingly high acqua alta (exceptional tide peaks that occur periodically in the northern Adriatic Sea) and the problematic solutions devised to address this challenge, along with case studies of urban reuse within Venice.

Students also visited Arzaná—a society that preserves and restores traditional Venetian boats, learning about the endangered sustainability of cultural traditions while also being able to play with traditional boat-making tools (such as a hand adze!). They learned about lagoon ecology both via an ecological walking tour of the lagoon’s salt marshes (where those who were brave sampled some samphire) and via a visit to I&S Farm, a biodynamic and organic farm on the island of Sant’Erasmo that has pioneered growing methods using very little water. Within Venice itself, they learned about urban reuse, overtourism, and components of Venetian identity via walking tours of the Jewish Ghetto, the Rialto Market and the Fondaco de’ Tedeschi, and the Arsenale (via a visit to the art Biennale). The module leader and students are grateful to Jerry from Arzaná, Luana Castelli who led our ecological tour, Ilaria and Savino from I&S Farm, and Professor Luca Molá. They are particularly thankful for all of the work that Chiara Croff from Warwick in Venice did to help the module run smoothly and for Sam Brook’s work in co-ordinating elements of the WIISP programme.