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GEOL1111: Environmental Earth Science

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Open
Level 1
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Earth Sciences

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • GEOL1021 Earth Materials.

Aims

  • To understand the Earths water cycle in terms of both quantity and quality.
  • To understand the composition and materials of the Earth.
  • To understand the mode of formation, distribution and extraction of the Earths resources and energy.

Content

  • Environmental chemistry.
  • Introduction to Earth Materials
  • Resources (water, fossil fuels).

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • To explain the generation, migration and extraction of hydrocarbon reserves.
  • Will have acquired subject knowledge and understanding in geological principles, terms, definitions and classifications.
  • Will have acquired subject knowledge and understanding in ecological, biological and geochemical processes and their role in shaping the Earth.
  • Will have acquired subject knowledge and understanding in Earths natural resources and the techniques used to locate and exploit them.
  • Will have acquired subject knowledge and understanding of the Earths water cycle.
  • Will have acquired subject knowledge and understanding in the role of the geologist in society with regard to economic development and environmental sustainability.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills in order to apply geological principles and methodologies to the solution of familiar and unfamiliar problems.
  • Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills to synthesise information/data from a variety of sources.
  • Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills to analyse, evaluate/interpret geological data.

Key Skills:

  • Critical analysis
  • Research capability
  • Scholarship
  • Practical competency
  • Independent learning
  • Numeracy
  • IT skills
  • Information skills
  • Literacy
  • Innovation and creativity
  • Time management
  • Continuing personal development
  • Commercial awareness
  • Environmental awareness

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The module is delivered through a mix of one-hour lectures and two-hour practicals, supported by handouts and web-based background reading and other materials held on ULTRA.
  • The practicals form an important component of the module allowing hands-on learning and experience of tackling and solving graphical-based problems that help re-enforce key concepts introduced during lectures.
  • Summative assessment comprises poster presentation based on web-research, practical write up, and resource projects.
  • Formative assessment is provided in practical SAQ's and revision sessions

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures201 per week1 hour20Yes
Practicals201 per week2 hours40Yes
Preparation and reading140 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: ExaminationComponent Weighting: 60%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
two hour unseen written examination100 
Component: CourseworkComponent Weighting: 40%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Continual Assessment 1 50 
Continual Assessment 2 50 

Formative Assessment

Formative assessments delivered through practicals.

More information

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