Environmental Volcanology
Attila Kilinc
, Kilinc@email.uc.edu
University of Cincinnati
a University with graduate programs, including doctoral programs
.Summary
After a brief introduction to volcanology students learn the relationships between plate boundaries and plate intriors and volcanism. Next seven major volcanic hazards and what can be done to mitigate them is covered. Finally, students are exposed broader issues between volcanism and climate change, mass extinctions and volcanism, origin of life and submarine volcanoes and cultures developed around volcanoes.The course ends with a class discussion of benefits of volcanoes.
31-70
Course Context:
This is a sophomore-junior level course for non-majors. It has no prerequistes and no labs. Typically one or two students decide to major in geology after taking this course.
Course Goals:
Students should be able to assess volcanic hazards for a given volcano
Students should be able to interpret data from volcano monitoring instruments
Students should be able to analyze and assess volcanic risk given data on "value", "vulnerability" and "hazard"
Students should be able to analyze the cost/benefit ratio for a given volcano
Students should be able to interpret data from volcano monitoring instruments
Students should be able to analyze and assess volcanic risk given data on "value", "vulnerability" and "hazard"
Students should be able to analyze the cost/benefit ratio for a given volcano
How course activities and course structure help students achieve these goals:
Course activities such as evacuating a certain area around a given volcano in a given period of time, preparing a document about cost/benefit analysis for geothermal energy for a volcano in New Zealand, designing a hazard map for the Mt. Rainier help students achieve the discipline-related goals
Skills Goals
Student writing
quantitative abilities
Accessing large data bases to extract and analyze data
Communication skills for oral presentations
quantitative abilities
Accessing large data bases to extract and analyze data
Communication skills for oral presentations
How course activities and course structure help students achieve these goals:
Several exercises involve both accessing large data bases to receover needed data and quantitative data analysis
Class presentations (oral) by students about volcano hazards
A term paper on a major volcanic hazard
Class presentations (oral) by students about volcano hazards
A term paper on a major volcanic hazard
Attitudinal Goals
Developing students' ability to analyze volcanologic data
Learning how to read a scientific paper critically
Improving students' awareness of volcanic hazards versus benefits of volcanoes
Changing student attitudes toward geological sciences
Learning how to read a scientific paper critically
Improving students' awareness of volcanic hazards versus benefits of volcanoes
Changing student attitudes toward geological sciences
How course activities and course structure help students achieve these goals:
Short discussion on how to read and evaluate a scientific paper will help students in their reading/evaluation assignments
A discussion of geohazards will sensitise students toward developing a plan for geosafety
A discussion of geohazards will sensitise students toward developing a plan for geosafety
Assessment
Short quizzes
Rubric for term assignment
Rubric for term assignment
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