E&S Minor Classes

Geobiology: History of Life on Earth

Surveys the interactive Earth system: biology in geologic, environmental and climate change throughout Earth’s history. Introduces the concept of “life as a geological agent” and examines the interaction between biology and the Earth system during the roughly 4 billion years since life first appeared. Topics include the origin of the solar system and the early Earth atmosphere; the origin and evolution of life and its influence on climate up through and including the modern age and the problem of global warming; the global carbon cycle; and astrobiology.