Instructor: Paul Bierman, Geology Department, Room 203B
office phone: 656-4411 (I have phone mail)
email: pbierman@moose.uvm.edu
Landscapes surround us all and often seem to be static, unchanging backdrops for our day to day activities. Yet, if we begin to look closely, landscapes are anything but static features; they are continually evolving at a variety of time and length scales.
So, what then is Geomorphology? Narrowly, it is the study of landscapes, their forms and the history of their development. Broadly, it is what I hope to show you this fall. I'll argue that Geomorphology is one of the most synthetic of geologic sub-disciplines. Properly done it must consider any number of processes: tectonism, volcanism, weathering, hydrology. My goal for you as students was best expressed by one of my colleagues, "After this class you'll never look at a landscape the same way again. You'll always stop and wonder how and why the land looks the way it does..."
We will use a variety of tools and approaches to learn more about Earth's surface. Monday classes will be devoted to lecture and will be well illustrated with slides and transparencies. Wednesday, we will take fieldtrips and gather data. Friday is something new, a "hands on" practicum where you will work together to learn new skills and reduce data. For those of you whose Earth Science may be a bit rusty, any of the introductory Geology texts held by the library should serve you well as a source of information.
You will be responsible for completing a variety of assignments over the course of the semester. There will be occasional readings in John McPhee's book, The Control of Nature, readings which we will discuss in class. There will assignments related to the fieldtrips and each of you will be part of a group research project. There will be occasional and unannounced reading quizzes on assigned readings and web browsings. The quizzes will last 3 minutes and will start immediately at the beginning of class. So, if you want to take the quizzes, do not be late for class.
The research project is an integral part of this class. It will be done in groups of two and will require the collection of data, and the analysis and interpretation of the your data in the context of the published work of others. The purpose of this project is many-fold including: an introduction to the geologic literature, experience in data collection and interpretation, honing your writing and presentation skills, and practice in collaboration and hypothesis testing.
Grades will be calculated as follows. Assignments are due promptly at the beginning of class. Late assignments are very strongly discouraged and will lose one letter grade for each day they are late unless arrangements have been made with me prior to the due date of the assignment. There will be two exams during the semester and your performance will be evaluated as follows.
exams 40%
fieldtrip reports (drop lowest) 20%
project 25%
reading sheets and quizzes 10%
participation and effort 5%
There are three required texts for the course; all are or will be available at the bookstore. Please bring the Atlas with you to class and practicum but not to lab.
McPhee, J., The Control of Nature
Van Rose and Mercier, Volcanoes
Hammond, New Comparative World Atlas
There is no text book for the course this year due to suggestions from the last several years of students. Rather, I have compiled a group of readings which you need to buy from University graphics and printing (basement in Waterman) and there is a website for the class. The website has numerous hot links which I expect you to peruse before each class (they may show up on quizzes...).
http://beluga.uvm.edu/geowww/geomorph.html
For those who prefer the written word, I will leave copies of Bloom and Ritter (general geomorph texts) on the shelves outside my office. These books should NOT leave the building and should return to my shelf when you are done with them.
I do not have official office hours but maintain an open door policy. If the door is open, I am fair game. If the door is closed it means either, I'm really busy or I'm not in my office. Please try me later. If you need to chat feel free to stay after class or better yet email or call me for an appointment. I often work at home writing in the mornings.
Field trips make up an integral part of this course. All eight trips will include some amount of walking and sturdy shoes are recommended. Of course, since it will be fall in Vermont, the weather will be cool and clear but make sure you are prepared for cold, wet conditions. Unless the weather is extreme enough to present a hazard, we will go out in the, rain, fog, snow, wind.....For each trip you MUST have:
Waterproof raingear
Sturdy footwear
a sweater for warmth
a waterproof field notebook and pencil
perhaps a small knapsack to carry all this.
Kyle Nichols is the teaching Assistant for this class. He will established office hours but is also available whenever you can find him. Kyle will be grading your laboratory assignments.
Lastly..please get an email account ASAP and email me a message at pbierman@moose.uvm.edu.
Many of your assignments will be due electronically so email is a must.