GEOL 105 - Geohazards

Geohazards is an introductory course for students of all backgrounds aimed at: 1) understanding the geology behind disasters, including earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, sinkholes, landslides, climate change, asteroid impacts, and changes in Earth’s magnetic field; 2) investigating the intersection of risk with society (e.g., how communities and governments evaluate risk and implement risk-appropriate mitigation strategies) and at a personal level (e.g., understanding hazards you may face as homeowners or renters and determining your level of risk aversion). Three 1-hour meetings (lectures, movie clips, discussions, and activities) per week, one fieldtrip to view sinkholes, landslide debris, and spelunk in the Twin Cities, no lab. Offered alternate years. (4 Credits)