ENVS 170 - Earth Science at the Movies

This course will use modern media as a springboard to discuss concepts in introductory geology and to debunk common myths in Earth and environmental science, ranging from science that is just plain wrong to science that is cutting-edge and controversial. We will view a variety of popular and classic films (e.g. The Day After Tomorrow, Armageddon, Volcano, The Core, Jurassic Park, Earthquake!, Dante’s Peak) to segue into discussions on topics of global perspective, including mineralogy, petrology, paleontology, volcanology, astronomy, planetary geology, dating techniques, climate change, and modern analytical techniques. We will also discuss the nuances of entertainment-as-education and examine the current state of STEM education in this country and globally. Class discussions will be supplemented with lab exercises, from learning basic principles of mineralogy to fossil identification to simulated asteroid impacts. This course will also introduce the philosophy and history of science. The class will examine current ideas in pseudoscience where students will use their new skills to detect and debunk popular scientific myths, ranging from young Earth creationism to global warming skepticism.

4 credits