EVST-2150 : Geoscience

We are now living in the Anthropocene, the geologic epoch in which humanity has become the dominant force in shaping Earth.  What do we humans need to know in order to live here more wisely and sustainably?  This course is intended for Environmental Studies majors and minors and is focused on developing a hands-on understanding of how geological processes and materials interact.  Fundamental to comprehending geologic processes is a working knowledge of geologic time, which we humans are not naturally wired to understand.  Another course theme will be the complex interactions among various Earth systems, which include the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.  The primary approach to developing a fuller understanding of these course themes and topics will be by learning and applying the scientific method.  Lectures, labs and field trips will include quantitative as well as descriptive components, and will primarily focus on developing a firsthand understanding of the geologic and human origins of Earth's surface.