THE GEOLOGICAL DESTINY OF NATIONS - A NEW TYPE OF GEOLOGY COURSE THAT EXPLORES THE INTERSECTION OF HUMANITY AND GEOLOGY

Many colleges and universities require students to complete general education courses to provide students with a well-rounded background. To a large extent the traditional disciplines of basic science, math, humanities, social science, language, still serve as the core and they are often taught as isolated subjects.

Over the last decade we have been developing a new geology general education course that explores the connections between science, history, politics, business, and human behavior, called “The Geological Destiny of Nations”. The significance of geology throughout history, from the stone age to the present, cannot be overstated. Societies often rise and fall as a result of the geologic resources that are available to them or the geologic hazards that surround them. The course explores questions such as What influence did geology have on past thinking and behavior? Do those ideas still influence us today? How has water influenced human migration and settlement? How have humans influenced water? How has the uneven distribution of geologic resources led to innovation, communication, trade, migration, and conflict? Does the ability to transport minerals and goods relatively easily around the world today lead to more innovation, communication, trade, migration, and conflict, or less? Where will the energy and mineral resources of the future come from? Will these resources create a more equitable world? And Will these resources be sustainable over the long-term?

Survey responses and interactions with students indicate that this has been an engaging, valuable and impactful course for them.