Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2022 - EASC 209W D100

Environmental Geoscience (4)

Class Number: 1924

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 7 – Dec 6, 2022: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 7 – Dec 6, 2022: Fri, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 19, 2022
    Mon, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    EASC 101 with a grade of C- or better.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Environmental geology is a branch of Earth science that deals with the relationship of people to their geological habitat. Topics covered will include environmental impact of mineral extraction and logging; erosion and sedimentation in rural and urban environments; and mass movements in mountainous terrain. The course includes two 1-day field trips that usually occur on Saturdays. This course is primarily designed for EASC program students and those pursuing degrees in other Departments and Faculties that require a strong foundational course in Environmental Geoscience. Students with credits for EASC 303W may not take this course for credit. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

Environmental geoscience is a branch of Earth Science that deals with the relationship between people and their geologic habitat. Topics covered will include natural hazards, environmental impact of mineral extraction and logging, erosion and sedimentation in rural and urban environments, environmental geochemistry, and urban geology. This course is primarily designed for EASC program students and those pursuing degrees in other departments and faculties that require a strong foundational course in environmental geoscience.

Course Topics:

  1. Introductory concepts
  2. Geomorphology (general concepts, glacial and periglacial)
  3. Natural hazards (earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, floods, mass movements)
  4. Climate change
  5. Urban geology and resource environmental geochemistry

Course Organization:
One 2-hour lecture and one 1-hours lecture, and one 3-hour laboratory class per week.

Field trips:
TBA – there will be two 1-day fieldtrips on weekends.

Students will require basic fieldgear (boots, raingear, etc.), a lunch and must have a camera. You will also hand in your field notes with your field report.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

  • understand and use terrain and applied maps to solve geologic problems;
  • recognize and understand mitigation techniques for natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes, mass wasting and volcanic;
  • solve geologic problems and reduce risk in both the urban environment and associated with resource development;
  • communicate geologic knowledge via field notes and synthesizing geologic information for various stakeholders and other geologists.

Grading

  • Field trip report 10%
  • Term paper 15%
  • Presentation 10%
  • Labs 20%
  • Midterm 15%
  • Final 30%

NOTES:

Be aware that during the field trip there will be period of strenuous hiking, sometimes through mud, hiking close to cliffs and crossing roads with busy traffic. Appropriate clothing and footwear should be worn. Further details regarding safety, and field supplies will be discussed prior to the field trip.


*There is a supplementary fee*

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

3-D glasses are required for lectures, labs and exams.  Various online retailers sell them (paper option is okay).

REQUIRED READING:

Introduction to Envoronmental Geology, 5th Edition, Edward A. Keller
ISBN: 9780321830432

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html