253
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
S. Lucatello et al. (eds.), Stewardship of Future Drylands and Climate
Change in the Global South, Springer Climate,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22464-6_15
Chapter 15
The Atlas Workshops of Agdz, Morocco:
A Model Region for a Scientific–Artistic
Dialogue
U. Nehren, S. Lichtenberg, H. Mertin, N. Dennig, A. El Alaoui, H. Zgou,
S. Alfonso de Nehren, and C. Raedig
Abstract The town of Agdz in southeast Morocco was chosen as an applied case
for the cooperation project “The Atlas Workshops of Agdz: A model region for a
scientific-artistic dialogue.” The aim of the project was to use scientific and artistic
approaches to identify transformation processes in the socio-ecological system and
the associated impacts on the cultural heritage of the Imazighen (Berbers).
Transdisciplinary and intercultural teaching and learning methods provided international students with a holistic view of system contexts and changes and enabled
them to analyze and reflect on them. Based on the project results, this chapter discusses transformation processes in Agdz in the course of global change, which pose
new challenges for the region. We examine aspects of oasis agriculture, water use,
traditional earthen architecture, and the Ahwash ritual, an intangible cultural heritage of the Imazighen. Moreover, we discuss the extent to which transdisciplinarity
and interculturality can contribute to a better understanding of the system and foster
U. Nehren (*) · S. Alfonso de Nehren · C. Raedig
Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics, TH Köln,
Köln, Germany
e-mail: udo.nehren@th-koeln.de
S. Lichtenberg
Department of Physical Geography, University of Passau, Passau, Germany
H. Mertin
Freelance musician, sound performer and music ethnologist, Cologne, Germany
N. Dennig
Dindum Kulturkommunikation e.V., Pulheim-Manstedten, Germany
A. El Alaoui
Natural Resources and Environment Research Team (NR & E), Department of Chemistry,
Faculty of Science and Technology Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco
H. Zgou
Polydisciplinary Faculty of Ouarzazate, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
S. Lucatello et al. (eds.), Stewardship of Future Drylands and Climate
Change in the Global South, Springer Climate,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22464-6_15
Chapter 15
The Atlas Workshops of Agdz, Morocco:
A Model Region for a Scientific–Artistic
Dialogue
U. Nehren, S. Lichtenberg, H. Mertin, N. Dennig, A. El Alaoui, H. Zgou,
S. Alfonso de Nehren, and C. Raedig
Abstract The town of Agdz in southeast Morocco was chosen as an applied case
for the cooperation project “The Atlas Workshops of Agdz: A model region for a
scientific-artistic dialogue.” The aim of the project was to use scientific and artistic
approaches to identify transformation processes in the socio-ecological system and
the associated impacts on the cultural heritage of the Imazighen (Berbers).
Transdisciplinary and intercultural teaching and learning methods provided international students with a holistic view of system contexts and changes and enabled
them to analyze and reflect on them. Based on the project results, this chapter discusses transformation processes in Agdz in the course of global change, which pose
new challenges for the region. We examine aspects of oasis agriculture, water use,
traditional earthen architecture, and the Ahwash ritual, an intangible cultural heritage of the Imazighen. Moreover, we discuss the extent to which transdisciplinarity
and interculturality can contribute to a better understanding of the system and foster
U. Nehren (*) · S. Alfonso de Nehren · C. Raedig
Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics, TH Köln,
Köln, Germany
e-mail: udo.nehren@th-koeln.de
S. Lichtenberg
Department of Physical Geography, University of Passau, Passau, Germany
H. Mertin
Freelance musician, sound performer and music ethnologist, Cologne, Germany
N. Dennig
Dindum Kulturkommunikation e.V., Pulheim-Manstedten, Germany
A. El Alaoui
Natural Resources and Environment Research Team (NR & E), Department of Chemistry,
Faculty of Science and Technology Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco
H. Zgou
Polydisciplinary Faculty of Ouarzazate, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco