The Anthropocene: Human’s Control of Nature

Catalog description

This course introduces students to the essential realities of living on a dynamic Earth. Students examine how geological events and processes (earthquakes, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and long-term and short-term climate changes) affect our survival, evolution, and adaptation. The course also critically examines ‘geoengineering’, which has created many solutions to problems that would have otherwise impeded civilization’s progress, but has also resulted in many unintended consequences. Most importantly, this course will encourage students to examine their potential to transform our civilization to one that is aligned to the essential symbiotic relationship we have with our dynamic Earth. Finally, as a First Year Seminar the course introduces incoming freshman and transfer students to fundamental academic essentials important to a successful University of Wyoming experience. USP 2015 Code U5FY