The Earth in My Pocket: an Introduction to Geology (FutureLearn)

Get an introduction to geology. Discover where materials that make up everyday objects come from and how to use them sustainably. Everything we use that has not been grown either contains or relies on materials that have been sourced by a geoscientist. Whether we are standing out in the wilderness, in the middle of a city or in our home, geology and the Earth’s natural resources are all around us, forming an integral part of our everyday lives.

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During this free online course, you will discover the link between the ocean floor, volcanoes and your mobile phone; why tiny marine plants and animals are at the core of the plastics industry; and how colliding continents and mountain building processes influence the appearance of many buildings and numerous kitchen worktops.

Get an introduction to geological processes

The course will introduce you to some basic geological processes, focusing on ‘how, where and why’ different rocks and natural resources form across the Earth. You will look at some of the considerations geologists need to take into account when extracting and processing these resources.

You will not only consider the environmental consequences of natural resource extraction and usage, but also the innovative ways that geoscientists are finding to fix some of these problems.

Consider what sustainability means for geologists

The course will make you aware of the considerations that geologists need to take into account when extracting and processing rocks and natural resources.

You will consider what sustainability means for natural resources, how social trends affect the supply and demand of different resources, and the impact this is having both on the environment and the global economy.

The course will help you reassess and appreciate the wide variety of natural resources that surround you all of the time.

What topics will you cover?

- Identifying igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks

- The rock cycle

- Plate tectonics

- Sources of metals and some of their uses in everyday life

- The origins, exploration and uses of oil

- Environmental impacts of using the Earth’s resources

- Some methods of mitigating environmental issues

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

- Identify different igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.

- Assess and understand the origin, occurrence and availability of some natural physical resources associated with metals, oil and building stones.

- Apply and use numerical and graphical methods to interpret quantities and concentrations of different natural resources.

- Describe and appreciate societal and environmental issues associated with the sustainability of the Earth’s physical resources.

Environmental Science