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Introduction to Earth and Environment (2025/2026: Semester 1 – Fall)
Course aim
After completing this course students are able to:
1. Review (scientific) information related to the Earth’s environments, Earth as a system, and the local and global ramifications of natural events and human actions;
2: Employ specific Earth Science-related tools used in the Earth and Environmental Sciences: ecosystem modelling, basic geological map interpretation;
3: Identify characteristic timescales of geological and environmental systems, and how these timescales affect the responses of systems to changing (environmental) conditions;
4: Apply basic knowledge of physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and sociology to certain (simple) distinct Earth and Environmental Science problems, and test hypotheses against observations.
Relationship between assessment and learning goals:
1. Review (scientific) information related to the Earth’s environments, Earth as a system, and the local and global ramifications of natural events and human actions;
2: Employ specific Earth Science-related tools used in the Earth and Environmental Sciences: ecosystem modelling, basic geological map interpretation;
3: Identify characteristic timescales of geological and environmental systems, and how these timescales affect the responses of systems to changing (environmental) conditions;
4: Apply basic knowledge of physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and sociology to certain (simple) distinct Earth and Environmental Science problems, and test hypotheses against observations.
Relationship between assessment and learning goals:
| Description of assignment | Assesses which learning goals? |
| Participation (10%) | 1, 2, 4 |
| Ardennes report (15%) | 2, 3 |
| Popular science article (15%) | 1, 3 |
| Exam Earth (30%) | 1, 3, 4 |
| Exam Environment (30%) | 1, 3, 4 |
Course content
Note: Was previously code UCSCIEAR11. You cannot take both courses; they are the same.
Content
How to deal with global environmental change resulting from human activity is one of the most hotly debated topics today. This debate includes multiple scientific, societal, and economic issues. Our planet Earth has always been dynamic from a climatic and environmental viewpoint. Changes between colder and warmer conditions were gradual or more abrupt with extremes of (almost) entirely frozen over to conditions with tropical crocodiles on the poles. Therefore, to fully understand the global environmental change debate, it is crucial to understand the essentials of planet Earth’s natural dynamics, and which processes are currently altered through human activity. This course provides that background, by explaining how geological processes have shaped the Earth into its present state, and how current human activities are interfering with natural processes in Earth’s ecosystems. This background provides students with a solid basis for continuation of studies in the Earth and Environmental sciences.
Content
How to deal with global environmental change resulting from human activity is one of the most hotly debated topics today. This debate includes multiple scientific, societal, and economic issues. Our planet Earth has always been dynamic from a climatic and environmental viewpoint. Changes between colder and warmer conditions were gradual or more abrupt with extremes of (almost) entirely frozen over to conditions with tropical crocodiles on the poles. Therefore, to fully understand the global environmental change debate, it is crucial to understand the essentials of planet Earth’s natural dynamics, and which processes are currently altered through human activity. This course provides that background, by explaining how geological processes have shaped the Earth into its present state, and how current human activities are interfering with natural processes in Earth’s ecosystems. This background provides students with a solid basis for continuation of studies in the Earth and Environmental sciences.
Why the Earth’s surface looks the way it does can largely be understood from Earth’s internal structure dynamics. Aspects of the Geosphere that will be discussed in class include the formation of planet Earth, the rock cycle, geological time, the inner Earth, plate tectonics, deformation and mountain building, and sedimentation and sedimentary basins. Emphasis is placed on the role of geological observations as evidence of processes that contributed in shaping the surface of the Earth. In addition, we will discuss the diversity of Earth’s ecosystem and the importance of conserving biodiversity. We discuss the scientific aspects of global climate change, but also address the way climate change is discussed and presented in the popular media.
Format
The course consists of an Earth Science module and an Environmental Science module. Each module consists of a series of lectures and tutorials. The basic knowledge on the Earth system gained in these lectures and tutorials is tested via a midterm exam. The practical classes of the Earth Science module focus on the geological history of the Ardennes Mountains. Students analyze and interpret geological maps, rocks, and fossils, applying the theoretical knowledge of geological principles and methods gained during the lectures. This series of practical classes are then summarized in an essay. The practical classes of the Environmental Science module provide hands-on experience in analyzing biodiversity data, ecosystem responses to global climate change and the functioning of the climate system. The resulting basic knowledge on biomes, biodiversity, biogeochemical cycles and the climate system is tested via an exam. The ability of students to review (scientific) information related to climate change is tested via an essay on the current discussion of global change in the popular media.
Instructional formats
UCU SCI 1 course
Examination
Participation
Required | Weight 10% | ECTS 0.75
Ardennes report
Required | Weight 15% | ECTS 1.13
Popular science article
Required | Weight 15% | ECTS 1.13
*midterm FEEDBACK*
Not required
Exam Earth
Required | Weight 30% | ECTS 2.25
Exam Environment
Required | Weight 30% | ECTS 2.25
Entry requirements and preknowledge
Entry Requirements
No data about mandatory entry requirements is available.
Preknowledge
No data about preknowledge is available.
Languages
- English
Competences
-
Academic writing
-
Interdisciplinarity
-
Critical reading
-
Collaboration
Course Iterations
Related studies
Exams
There is no timetable available of the exams
Required Materials
-
BOEKEarth - Portrait of a Planet, (6th edition or 7th edition). Norton & company publishers, New York & London ISBN 978-0-393-93750-3. The 5th edition still qualifies.
Recommended Materials
No information available on the recommended literature
Remarks
Was previously code UCSCIEAR11
Coördinator
| dr. ir. C.G.M. Klein Goldewijk | C.G.M.KleinGoldewijk@uu.nl |
Lecturers
| dr. ir. C.G.M. Klein Goldewijk | C.G.M.KleinGoldewijk@uu.nl |
| dr. P.R.D. Mason | p.r.d.mason@uu.nl |
| F.A. van der Ploeg | F.A.vanderPloeg@uu.nl |
| dr. S.C. Roud | s.c.roud@uu.nl |
Enrolment
Attention: this course is not open to students from other faculties, so subsidiary students can't enroll for this course.
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