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Course Overview
This interdisciplinary course provides a comprehensive overview of the wicked problem of precarity. Unlike ordinary problems, which are well-defined, self-contained, and come with a limited set of potential solutions, wicked problems resist definition, are mixed up with other problems, and cannot be solved in a way that is simple or final. As our world becomes increasingly defined by its lack of resources, leading to living a life of insecurity, there is a growing need for responses and solutions that crosscut disciplinary boundaries. This course approaches the wicked problem of precarity from diverse disciplinary perspectives (i.e., applied sciences, humanities, social sciences, and health sciences) to investigate the various dimensions of this global challenge. Topics addressed include understanding what constitutes a wicked problem, poverty, homelessness, housing scarcity, and food insecurity - all fundamental aspects of our lives that are becoming more scarce or unaffordable. The course prepares students to analyze the wicked problem of precarity from an interdisciplinary perspective, to evaluate and critique diverse perspectives on the issue, and to devise potential solutions for mitigating and adapting to the uncertain world in which we live.
Open to all undergraduate students in level 3A or higher, the Wicked Problem of Precarity: Living in an Uncertain World course takes an innovative and interdisciplinary approach to investigate how precarity is impacting our way of life, combining both in-class and online learning.
Graduate students at the University of Waterloo are engaged in research that is advancing our understanding of - and developing solutions to - some of society’s most challenging problems. As part of the University’s strategic plans to develop talent for a complex world and focus on interdisciplinary scholarship, this initiative sees a team of PhD candidates come together to design, develop, and offer a course related to contemporary Wicked Problems. The course will be offered to upper-year undergraduate students from across the University to create a community of scholars, sharing different perspectives from the PhD candidate instructors and the learners in the classroom.
The innovation lies in its team of instructors – three PhD candidates, who are deep into their own explorations of precarity, will enthusiastically lead this blended learning course to examine aspects of precarity and the wicked problems it presents to humanity. The interdisciplinarity is found in the instructors (one from Arts, Health Sciences, and Environment) and in the undergraduate students who register for the course from various disciplines.
The intention of the Wicked Problem course is as follows:
- Each PhD candidate brings disciplinary expertise to the course;
- The teaching team receives mentorship and support with regard to course conception, design and integration;
- Collectively, the course creates an interdisciplinary experience that fosters learning and integration of knowledge, methods and ways of knowing that could not be achieved within a single disciplinary approach.
Read more about the first iteration of the Wicked Problem course - Climate Change - to learn more about what this style of course is like.
How to Register
Are you interested in signing up and trying a truly innovative learning experience? The course selection period for winter enrolment opens on January 29th. Please look for the following course subject codes/catalogue numbers to register for the course:
- ARTS 390
- ENVS 374
- HLTH 373
Please note that you may register for any one of these three sections of the course. For example, as an Arts, Environment, or Health student, you may register for your home section, or any one of the other two sections. For Math, Engineering, or Science students, you may register for any one of the three sections.
Draft Course Learning Outcomes
The following are the draft intended learning outcomes for the course. Please keep in mind the course is being designed throughout the Winter 2024 term and these learning outcomes are subject to change as the course is re-designed. Final intended learning outcomes will appear on the course syllabus in May 2024. By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- Explain the core concepts of precarity and current mitigation and adaptation approaches.
- Examine the wicked problem of precarity across applied sciences, humanities, social sciences, and health sciences, including interconnections between and limitations of each discipline.
- Assess the impact of precarity on culture, societies, economies, technology, and the natural environment.
- Compare diverse perspectives to articulate and evaluate your own position on precarity.
- Collaborate with other students and combine disciplinary approaches to propose solutions to a precarity problem of your choice.
- Develop interdisciplinary skills and identify how those skills can be used in your future studies and/or career.
Meet the Instructors
These PhD candidates are spending the winter 2024 term in the Teaching Innovation Incubator, working together with Centre for Teaching Excellence education specialists and past instructors of the Wicked Problem of Climate Change course to re-design and develop a course that will be a highlight in an undergraduate student’s degree.
Adebusola Adekoya
Faculty of Health
Adebusola (Busola) Adekoya is a registered nurse and PhD Candidate in the School of Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo. Busola is passionate about the rights of older adults to receive quality care and maintain optimal quality of life. Her research focuses on policy development and implementation of community alert systems for locating missing persons with dementia at local, municipal, and provincial or national levels in Canada, Scotland, and the United States. Busola looks forward to co-developing and co-teaching the Wicked Problem of Precarity course and sharing her passion and clinical experience in addressing the problem.
Kevin Bonnell
Faculty of Environment
Kevin Bonnell is a Ph.D. candidate with a unique academic journey encompassing a B.Sc. in Honours Health Science and an M.A. in Community Psychology, both earned at Wilfrid Laurier University. His research trajectory focuses on exploring the experiences of equity-denied communities with the built environment. Currently, at the School of Planning, Kevin's research focus is deeply concerned with how institutional and state policies/practices interact to spatialize race (and other equity-denied identities such as people racialized as Black or Brown or have precarious immigration statuses) and the role of community organizing and racial justice movements in resisting power structures in the built environment (from campus spaces to housing systems).
Kevin's research aims to use a critical race lens to center the lived experiences of historically equity-denied people and their experiences and investigate the structural inequalities embedded within systems that spatialize race and racialize space. His research delves into the historical and contemporary dynamics of evictions, examining how race shapes the experiences of individuals and communities facing housing instability and displacement while also understanding the role of tenant organizations in advocating for broader efforts of housing justice. He is deeply interested in teaching an interdisciplinary course that aligns seamlessly with my profound interest in understanding and addressing the intricate challenges equity-denied communities face. Exploring the nuanced layers of precarity within this demographic is academically stimulating and vital for fostering inclusive perspectives. An interdisciplinary approach allows for a holistic examination, incorporating insights from health science, community psychology, urban planning, critical race studies, urban social movements and beyond.
His enthusiasm for teaching is fueled by a dedication to centring the experiences of equity-denied communities, enabling a deep understanding of broader institutional processes and contemporary resistance movements. This commitment provides a platform to inspire critical thinking, encourage active engagement, and bridge the gap between knowledge and practical solutions regarding ongoing forms of precarity in our diverse society.
Serena McDiarmid
Faculty of Arts
Serena McDiarmid (she/her) is a PhD candidate and Vanier Scholar in Developmental Psychology where she studies belonging, loneliness, and precarious social connections. Serena has held several roles in education at the elementary and post-secondary levels and holds a BEd from Wilfrid Laurier University and a BSc in Health Studies from the University of Waterloo. In her work within Waterloo Region and abroad, Serena has worked with interdisciplinary teams to create positive change for children and youth. She looks forward to creating an interdisciplinary classroom community that draws on the many strengths and assets of students from varied backgrounds.