This course explores how to accelerate the transition to an economy that regenerates the Earth's biosphere and sustains the ecosystem services on which all life and economic activity depend. Using the circular economy as a starting point, we examine the deep interconnections between geobiology and the economy and consider what it means to design economic systems that restore, rather than deplete, natural capital. Although regenerative economics is an emerging field, this course emphasizes practice over theory. Students gain key concepts and tools to address real-world problems from a regenerative perspective and to design regenerative initiatives across a range of sectors. Course topics are grounded in case studies and enriched by guest speakers who are leading practitioners in their domains. We explore multiple areas of regenerative opportunity, including regenerative agriculture and permaculture, agroforestry, ecosystem restoration and rewilding, bio-based materials and products (grown rather than manufactured), seaweed- and fungi-based enterprises, and novel sources of food. Alongside the circular economy framework, we examine the planetary boundaries framework and review several large-scale human-Earth system models that integrate human activity with geobiological cycles. Throughout the course, we apply a precautionary and critical lens to technologies that may help measure, manage, or foster regeneration at local and planetary scales.
Credits: 4
View Tuition InformationTerm
Spring Term 2027
Part of Term
Full Term
Format
Flexible Attendance Web Conference
Credit Status
Graduate, Noncredit, Undergraduate
Section Status
Open