CORE 192S - The Anthropocene: Earth Systems With and Without Us

Temperatures are increasing, sea levels are rising, many species are on the move, and some have gone extinct. These changes in Earth’s environments profoundly shape our lives, influencing where we live, the food we eat, the work we do, and how we see ourselves and others. Geologists have proposed that we live in a new interval in the history of our planet, the Anthropocene, in which the activities of our species have transformed Earth systems in ways that will leave an indelible signature in the geologic record. How do we know that these environmental changes are underway and that humans are responsible? Students explore the scientific evidence for the Anthropocene, considering how Earth systems operate both with and without us. Students learn about the process of science by critically reading the scientific literature, by collecting, analyzing, and interpreting scientific data, by communicating scientific research to different audiences, and by considering the social context in which science is done.

Credits: 1.0
Prerequisites: None
Major/Minor Restrictions: None
Class Restriction: No Junior, Senior
Area of Inquiry: None
Liberal Arts CORE: Scientific Perspectives

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