Historical Geology and the Philosophy and Development of Geologic Thought in Britain
COURSE DESCRIPTION
England was the birthplace of modern geology. William Buckland, Robert Hooke, William Smith, James Hutton, Charles Lyell, Charles Darwin, and Adam Sedgewick, all contributed major principles that collectively became the cornerstone of historical geology. This course will cover the traditional topics presented in historical geology courses that satisfy core requirements. Continental evolution and the origin and diversity of life through geologic time will be covered during lecture periods. Field trips to sites significant in the development of geologic thought and examination of collections and displays of fossil organisms will accent class discussions.
Course Objectives:
1) To appreciate the ties of English culture and history to the development of geologic thought.
2) To understand the concept of geologic time and the scale earth processes operate in.
3) To gain a concept of the history and evolution of life on earth.
4) To be able to describe the birth and evolution of the continents.
5) To understand the role key English geologists had in developing important concepts of historical geology.
6) To foster critical reading, speaking, and thinking skills by integrating principles of geological sciences in the medium of earth history.
Day 1 Introduction to Earth, Evolutionary Processes
Day 2 Interpreting the Rock Record and Geologic Time
Day 3 The Precambrian: Origin of Continents and Life
Day 4 The Paleozoic: Multicellular Life and Continental Evolution
Day 5 The Mesozoic: Continental Evolution
Day 6 The Mesozoic: Age of Dinosaurs
Day 7 The Cenozoic: Flowering Plants, Mammals, and Continental Evolution
Day 8 Pleistocene Glaciations and the origin of man.
Four All Day Field Trips:
1) Travel to Charles Darwin's Down House and discuss The Origin of Species on site.
2) Travel to Cambridge and tour the Adam Sedgewick Museum.
3) Travel to Lyme Regis to collect classic Mesozoic age fossils of Ammonites and possibly vertebrate fossils. Famous collecting site of Mary Anning.
4) Travel to Dorset, to visit Dinosaur Museum.
Other smaller field trips would include visits to the British Natural History Museum, touring and examining geologic material used in building in London. If the locality is open, students will collect plant fossils in the London Clay Pits.
BIODIVERSITY
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The growth and development of organismal biology is directly connected with England and the age of exploration. This course will cover the traditional topics covered in introductory organismal biology courses that satisfy core requirements. Evolutionary processes and theory, organismal diversity, and principles of ecology will be covered during lecture periods. Field trips significant to sites significant to the development of biological philosophy and examination of living collections of plants (Kew Gardens) and Animals (London Zoo) as well as museum displays will accent class discussions.
Course Objectives:
1) To appreciate the ties of English culture and history to the development of biological thought.
2) To appreciate the diversity of organisms inhabiting our planet.
3) To understand the role of evolution as a unifying theory of biology.
4) To understand the interactions among organisms and the physical environment.
5) To understand the role key English biologists had in developing important concepts of organismal biology and evolutionary theory.
6) To foster critical reading, speaking, and thinking skills by integrating principles of biological sciences in the medium of evolutionary theory.
7) To understand why maintenance of biodiversity is crucial for the survival of the human race.
Lecture Topics:
Day 1 The History of Evolutionary Thought and Evolutionary Theory
Day 2 Origin of Life and Bacterial Diversity
Day 3 Origin of the Eukaryotic Cell and Unicellular Diversity
Day 4 Origin and Diversification of Land Plants
Day 5 Invertebrate Diversity
Day 6 Vertebrate Diversity
Day 7 Ecological Principles and Community Structure
Day 8 Ecosystems and Human Population Growth
Four All Day Field Trips:
1) Travel to Charles Darwin's Down House and discuss The Origin of Species on site.
2) Travel to Cambridge and tour the Zoological
3) Travel to Lyme Regis to examine marine organisms and collect fossil invertebrates.
4) Spend one whole day at Kew Gardens touring the Economic Botany House, Evolution House, and living collections.
Other smaller field trips would include the London Zoo, British Natural History Museum, and examination of human impact on ecosystems and ecological succession in the London area.