ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF WORK

The course is part of the Interdisciplinary Activities (Environmental History track) [C] of the Master's degree Programme in Environmental Humanities. It aims at exploring the intrinsic link between nature and labour, the ways in which human labour has transformed and been transformed by the environment, and the environmental discourses and policies of the labour movement. More widely, it aims to open up a conversation between Environmental and Labour studies.

Knowledge and Understanding
- knowledge of the main issues and methods of Labour History and Environmental History
- knowledge of the impact of the Industrial Revolution over environment and human health
- understanding the role of industrial labour in changing the relationship between human beings and natural environment
- understanding the fallouts over workers and communities of the environmental degradation caused by industry

Ability to apply Knowledge and Understanding
- ability to identify a common ground between Labour History and Environmental History
- ability to recognize the complexity of the relation between industrial production, employment and the protection of the environment
- ability to critically evaluate the causes of environmental conflicts provoked by industrial activities

Communication Skills
- ability to participate in group discussion adopting a suitable terminology and respecting the opinions of others
- ability to draw on personal experiences to enrich the group discussion

Learning Skills
- ability to take part in interactive and collaborative activities on the Moodle platform
- ability to increase the bibliography through personal research

The course has no specific pre-requirements other than a basic knowledge of the Industrial Revolution.

Workers’ Ecologies: The Case of Porto Marghera (Venice)

The course explores the complex relationships between labour and the environment in contemporary history, with particular attention to workers, the labour movement, and environmental movements. The first part provides a historical reconstruction of the emergence of the “environmental issue” as a distinctive problem of industrial society. It examines the ambivalent position of the working class within this history: workers participated in industrial production while also being among those most directly exposed to its environmental and health consequences. Particular attention is devoted to the concept of “workers’ ecology” and to the forms of environmental knowledge and mobilisation that emerged in the workplace.
The second part focuses on Porto Marghera, Venice’s industrial district, as a case study. Porto Marghera is both one of the most emblematic sites of industrial contamination and an important laboratory of workers’ and citizens’ struggles against occupational and environmental hazards. Its history also reveals the tensions and conflicts that have arisen between employment, environmental protection, and the interests of local communities.

The reference list will be published at a later date.

For the final assessment, students are required to read one text of their choice from Section A of the Bibliography and one from Section B, and to write a Short Critical Research Essay (see below). The oral exam will consist of a discussion of the selected readings and the essay, which must be submitted to the instructor at least one week before the exam date. Students who fail to submit the essay by the deadline will be required to take the exam on the next available exam date.

SHORT CRITICAL RESEARCH ESSAY
Students are required to produce an original essay addressing a specific issue concerning the relationship between labour and the environment in Venice. Any area of work in Venice may be examined, including industry, agriculture and fishing, services, logistics, tourism, and cultural work. The issue may be approached from a historical, anthropological, or ecocritical perspective, or through a combination of these approaches.
The essay must be between 3,000 and 5,000 words, excluding notes, the list of sources, and the bibliography.
The assignment does not necessarily have to take the form of a traditional academic paper. Instead, students are expected to write a short, research-based and critically argued essay that combines critical analysis, documentary accuracy, and an original and accessible style.

The essay must:
- identify a clearly defined issue or research question;
- develop a recognisable thesis, interpretation, or point of view;
- make critical use of appropriate sources;
- connect concrete materials or cases to a broader historical, social, or environmental question;
- clearly identify the origin of the information used and distinguish between observation, testimony, and interpretation.

Sources may include published scholarship, historical documents, archival materials, articles, images, maps, data, interviews, conversations, direct or participant observation, and other materials collected through fieldwork. Where relevant to the argument, the essay may also incorporate descriptions of places, scenes, voices, episodes, or autobiographical elements.

oral

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

Below 18 – FAIL
Poor understanding of the course content; unclear oral presentation; weak written argumentation, with frequent syntactic and grammatical errors.
18–20 – PASS
Limited understanding of the course content and limited oral presentation skills; weak written argumentation.
21–23 – SATISFACTORY
Adequate understanding of the course content, with some uncertainty in the oral presentation; generally coherent written argumentation.
24–26 – GOOD
Good understanding of the course content, with only some uncertainty in the oral presentation; good written argumentation skills.
27–28 – VERY GOOD
Thorough understanding of the course content; good oral presentation and written argumentation skills.
29–30 – EXCELLENT
Thorough understanding of the course content; well-structured oral presentation; strong critical reflection skills and excellent writing proficiency.
30 CUM LAUDE – OUTSTANDING
Thorough understanding of the course content; well-structured oral presentation; excellent critical reflection and writing skills; evidence of originality.

The oral discussion of the selected readings will account for 20% of the final grade, while the Short Critical Research Essay will account for the remaining 80%.

Lectures and group discussion; forums and other collaborative activities in the Moodle platform. Class participation is warmly encouraged.