Class Overview

This class will survey the basics of knowledge about earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and ways these natural processes affect human civilization. Some very general objectives, not necessarily in the order of their importance, are listed below.

-Develop a basic familiarity with modern understanding of the way our planet functions

-Learn about hazards earthquakes and volcanoes pose to the human civilization, and about means of mitigating them.

-Learn basic facts about volcanoes, earthquakes, and their connection to large scale processes within the Earth.

 

Besides specific objectives above, it is the intent of this class to familiarize the student with the broad concept of the scientific inquiry:

-what constitutes knowledge,

-how is it acquired,

-how is it verified,

-how is it applied.

 

There are no formal prerequisites for this class. Students are expected to have basic familiarity with mathematics, physics and chemistry on the high-school level, and to possess a certain level of computer literacy.