GEO 160 - Geolocial Disasters & Sustainability (W) (1)

Record hurricanes. Historic droughts, historic flooding. Devastating wildfires. Tornados… volcanic eruptions… landslides. We seem to be increasingly barraged with news about momentous natural disasters. Is there actually an increase in the occurrence (or the magnitude) of these geological disasters? How and when do geological hazards become classified as natural disasters? And how do we create resilient and sustainable societies in the light of these destructive occurrences? This course will highlight the active role of geology in our daily lives by exploring the natural hazards we see reported in the daily news. Students will learn about the geology of natural hazards, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes, or drought, and will begin to investigate some of the widespread effects such geological hazards/disasters have on individuals, society, the economy, and politics. Significant time will be spent on the writing process, including critical reading of primary and secondary sources, and drafting and revising different types of academic writing. Not open to students who have previously completed a First-Year Writing Course.
(First Year Writing Seminar (FYW)) (Science)