Themes

  1. Water, mineral, and energy resources are essential to what we do in our everyday lives.
  2. Their formation and distribution around the globe are due to fascinating geologic processes.
  3. Our dependence on these resources has a measurable impact on the Earth systems and humans.
  4. Continued need for water and energy resources poses challenges to ensuring their sustainable use.

Course Description

Explores how geological processes and human populations together affect the quantity, quality and availability of Earth resources. Includes examination of the water cycle and how humans use and modify water; fossil-fuel and mineral resources, and renewable energy options. Sustainable versus non-sustainable use and population growth is considered. 

We invite you to learn why geological processes play such a critical role in the distribution, availability, quality and sustainability of water and energy resources, and to apply course concepts in making decisions related to socio-scientific issues dealing with resource management.