Earth Sciences

AIMS

1. To provide an overview of Earth history using UK geology as backdrop.
2. To introduce students to practical geological concepts, observations and deductions through field- and lab-based work.
3. To provide an introduction to the study of planet Earth including:

• Earth’s origin and formation
• Earth’s composition and dynamics
• Earth’s evolution as a complex system

OUTCOMES

Students should come away with:

1. an understanding of the fundamental principles, concepts and vocabulary of geology;
2. an understanding of the concept of geological cycles and how they relate to Earth evolution;
3. a global perspective of present-day plate tectonic settings and changes during the last 1000 million years;
4. an overview of the geological evolution of the UK;
5. the ability to make and record fundamental field observations (e.g. rock characteristics, dip and strike, folding, faulting, unconformities and palaeontology);
6. the ability to make simple deductions from observed data;
7. a basic understanding of geological maps and how they record geological data.
8. an overview of the range of studies that make up the Earth Sciences in order to make informed judgements about future studies at UCL.

CONTENT

This course provides an introduction to the origin, composition, dynamics and evolutionary history of the Earth. It is suitable for students with no previous knowledge of geology and lays a foundation for many other geoscience courses.

SUGGESTED TEXTS:

• Grotzinger, Jordan, Press & Siever "Understanding Earth", W H Freeman
• Marshak "Earth: Portrait of a Planet", Norton
• Tarbuck, Lutgens & Tasa "Earth", Pearson

Other inspiring reads:

• Fortey, R., The Hidden Landscape, Cape