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Get an introduction to geology. Discover where materials that make up everyday objects come from and how to use them sustainably.
Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
3 hoursThe Earth in My Pocket: an Introduction to Geology
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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.
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.
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.
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.
Skip to 0 minutes and 56 seconds MARCUS BADGER: Sign up now.
Skip to 0 minutes and 57 seconds ANNE JAY: You’ll learn together.
Skip to 0 minutes and 58 seconds MARCUS BADGER: You’ll discover the geology in your pocket.
Skip to 1 minute and 1 second ANNE JAY: The geology in our homes and cities.
Skip to 1 minute and 3 seconds MARCUS BADGER: And see our physical world from a different perspective.
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
The course is open to anyone with an interest in geology and the natural environment. It will be particularly useful for anyone considering an environmental science degree course or teachers who are looking for additional geology and geography resources to use in the classroom.
You will need a camera capable of taking a digital photo – a smart phone is fine. You will also need a Flickr account – this is free and easy to use.
I'm a lecturer in the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences at the Open University. I research a type of volcano called large igneous provinces.
I am a Lecturer in Earth Sciences at the Open University. I use organic molecules preserved in rocks to study the past 66 million years of the Earth's carbon cycle and climate.
As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.
Established
1969Location
Milton Keynes, UKWorld ranking
Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
You can use the hashtag #FLGeology to talk about this course on social media.
