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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 geologist.
On this online course, you will discover the link between volcanoes and your mobile phone, or why tiny marine wildlife is at the core of the plastics industry.
You will explore basic geological processes, focusing on how, where and why different rocks and natural resources form across the Earth.
You will also look at some of the environmental and sustainability considerations that geologists need to take into account when extracting and processing these resources.
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.
