GEOL 197 - Selected Topics

Credits: 3 Selected topical coverage of various timely or general interest subject areas in geology. The topic selected varies from year to year and is announced in advance of the registration period. Topics have included impact and extinction of the dinosaurs; volcanoes and tectonics; geologic consideration in land-use planning; and the geology of national parks. May be repeated for a maximum of four credits if the topic is different.

Winter 2021, GEOL 197A-01: FS: Carbon Farming Winter 2020 (3). First-year Seminar. Prerequisite: First-year class standing only. Can agriculture help us out of the global carbon crisis? Learn how soils form and function, and why two centuries of agriculture has eroded and depleted many of them. Then explore how regenerative agriculture can restore soil health, fix water quality problems, increase drought and pest resilience and increase farm profits. Explore the scientific research that shows how soils can store carbon and how much might be sequestered by using new practices. Talk with farmers and soil professionals from your home area. Explore local soils and agriculture practices. Assignments will include bibliographies, podcasts, farm plans and a final project/presentation. (SC) Harbor. FDR: SC