Vancouver & Seattle

The excursion to Vancouver and Seattle offered a unique opportunity to explore physical and human geography topics. The two neighboring cities are located in different states with sometimes contrasting developments - be it in politics, society, culture or the natural environment. These contrasts invited critical questions and in-depth analysis.

One focus was on urban development and the economy. In Seattle, the influence of Amazon on the cityscape in the South Lake Union district was examined, while Vancouver was considered as the center of the film industry ("Hollywood North"). Tourism played a role in the example of year-round operations in Whistler Mountain, while retail structures were analyzed using the "Pacific Place" shopping mall in Seattle. The US education system (University of British Columbia) and corporate responsibility (Starbucks, Microsoft) were also discussed. A visit to the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver offered insights into indigenous cultures. In addition, physical-geographical aspects such as local climate phenomena and water use in Washington's energy supply were examined.

Exclusive insights through expert discussions

A special highlight were talks with experts from science, business and administration, including Prof. Chris Gaston (UBC) and Frank Heusser (Microsoft). They provided valuable insights into current developments and invited exciting discussions. Some students even made contacts for their final theses.

Learning through experience

In addition to lectures and tours, the students were actively involved:

• Student presentations - Theoretical knowledge was linked to local conditions.
• Team rallies on site - playful exploration of the cities with themed tasks.
• Soft skills training - strengthening research skills, communication skills and critical thinking.

List of topics

• Socio-demographic developments in Vancouver and their spatial impact with a special focus on immigration
• The resource of wood in British Columbia
• The role of First Nations in Canada
• Hollywood North: Vancouver as a film production location
• SWOT analysis of the Port of Vancouver with regard to sustainability
• The suburbanization phenomenon in the inner city - the impact of US shopping malls on urban life
• Seattle: High-tech location on the Pacific Ocean
• Neoliberal urban policy using the example of Amazon
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the USA using the example of Microsoft
• Expansion, localization and brand building: How Starbucks conquered the world
• The American Dream - only backwards: Homelessness in the USA (focus on Seattle)
• Micro breweries in the USA (Can Craft Breweries Transform America's Post-Industrial Neighborhoods?) (Focus Seattle)