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Campus | Bryn Mawr |
Semester | Fall 2020 |
Registration ID | GEOLB101001 |
Course Title | How the Earth Works |
Credit | 1.00 |
Department | Environmental Studies |
Instructor | Weil,Arlo Brandon |
Times and Days | TF 08:10am-09:30am
T 01:10pm-04:00pm |
Room Location | |
Additional Course Info | Class Number: 1087 An introduction to the study of planet Earth—the materials of which it is made, the forces that shape its surface and interior, the relationship of geological processes to people, and the application of geological knowledge to the search for useful materials. Laboratory and fieldwork focus on learning the tools for geological investigations and applying them to the local area and selected areas around the world. Three lectures and one afternoon of laboratory or fieldwork a week. One required one-day field trip on a weekend.; The aim of Geology 101 is that all class participants will gain a fundamental understanding of how the Earth works, why it works the way it does, and how/why the planet we inhabit is able to sustain us. Topics of discussion include, but are not limited to, an understanding of geologic time, how our planet came to be, the physical processes that are, and were, active in forming our planet, the influences we have on the well-being of our planet, and lastly what as scientists and “earthlings” do we still not fully understand about our planet. Ultimately, I hope that this class inspires you to become keen observers of the planet on which you live, as well as provide you with the intellectual foundation to be able to think about and answer many diverse questions concerning our planet. For Example: - What is Geology and why is it so important? - What is our role as stewards of the Environment? - Why do Natural Disasters occur in the places they do? - Why are mountains shaped the way that they are? - Why is the Pacific Ocean where it is? Will it always be there? - Why are the Great Plains so flat and the Rocky Mountains so high? - Have the Appalachians always been here? - And much, much more ......... This course acts as the fundamental stepping stone into the Geology Major curriculum. This course is also foundational to other areas of inquiry, including environmental studies. My Learning Goals for the students who take this course: •Gain a foundational understanding of how the earth was formed, how old the earth is, and what the earth is made of. •The ability to describe a variety of common Geologic features/systems. •The ability to conceptualize deep time. •The ability to extrapolate surface observations into the subsurface. •A foundational understanding of the hydrologic cycle and its major interacting systems – including, the oceanic, river, glacial and atmospheric systems. •A foundational understanding of plate tectonics and the main geologic features found at active plate boundaries. •A foundational knowledge of the three main rock groups (igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary), their classifications and their genesis. •A basic understanding of the global distribution of natural hazards (e.g., volcanic, earthquakes, landslides), and why a particular hazard is more likely to occur at place A than at place B. •A basic understanding of the important forcing agents that control short-term and long-term climate variability. Approach: Quantitative Readiness Required (QR), Scientific Investigation (SI); Haverford: C: Physical and Natural Processes (C), Natural Science (NA) Enrollment Cap: 20; Freshmen Spaces: 10; If the course exceeds the enrollment cap the following criteria will be used for the lottery: Freshman; Sophomore; Junior; Geology 101 has both a lecture and a laboratory component – each regularly meets for three hours a week. The lecture component of the course will be taught on-line and synchronously due to the large expected enrollments. Lectures will be accesses at posted class times (twice a week on Tuesday and Friday from 8:10 am until 9:30 am) via a Zoom connection, and will also be recorded and posted for additional access. The laboratory component of the course will be an in-person experience. Each section will meet once a week in Park Science room 100 with social distancing and mask wearing precautions enforced. Required textbook for the class: Physical Geology Today 1st Edition; by Nance and Murphy |
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