DISCUSSIONS
Topics for discussion sessions and links to information on these topics
ASSIGN.
Details of required
position paper
A summary of course themes and learning objectives
The planned sequence of coverage for lecture topics
GRADING
How learning in the course is assessed
CONTACTS
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Major Course Themes
- Origins of matter, stars and the chemical elements.
- Formation of the Earth.
- Development of the atmosphere, oceans & continents over geological time.
- The origin of life, its evolution and extinction.
- Catastrophic events in Earth history.
- The past, present and future of climate change.
Learning Objectives
- The central aim of the course is to foster knowledge of the combination of critical factors that have shaped the development of the global environment.
- The course endeavors to build an understanding of the Earth system that provides answers to the following key questions:
- What combination of processes led to the formation of planet Earth?
- How do Earth's characteristics differ from those of other planets and why?
- Has the composition of Earth predetermined its evolutionary history?
- How well can ancient processes on Earth be reconstructed and what evidence is required?
- What factors exert critical controls on the present-day global environment?
- Have these controlling factors varied significantly over geological time?
- How does the existence of life and its activity affect the Earth system?
- What critical events have dramatically changed Earth’s environment?
- When have pronounced changes occurred in Earth's history?
- How has global climate varied over geological time?
- What are Earth’s climatic extremes?
- How is human activity changing the global environment?
- Can the detrimental effects of human activity be reversed?
- How resilient is the Earth system?
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Department of Geological Sciences,
1001 E. Tenth Street, Bloomington, IN 47405-1403
Phone: (812) 855-5582 Last updated: 6 January 2006
Copyright 2000, The Trustees of Indiana University