Stresses the interdependency of these subject areas toward a global view of this vast, yet fragile realm. Course also conveys the societal significance of the oceans and details the human element of the great commitment toward scientific exploration of this often foreign and dangerous world of inner space. This optional lab course may be taken during or after completing Geology 0105. It is designed for the student seeking a lab science distribution course and delves into the application of principles of geology critical to the practice of environmental science. Three hours of lab per week.
Paleobiology is about the history of nature.
Topics include the basic principles of paleobiology, origin of life on earth, classification, morphology, interrelationship between ancient organisms and their vanished environments, past geographic distribution, and evolutionary history of major groups of organisms through geologic time. This course is an interdisciplinary study which presents a general overview of how nature works and how earth and life systems, including society, are interconnected. It examines how the environment is being used and abused by humans, and what individuals can do to protect and improve it for future generations, and for other living things. Three hours of lecture and three hours of lab per week. Crystal optics and standard techniques are used to identify minerals in thin sections under the polarizing microscope.