BSc (Hons) Environmental Geology Bachelor's degree at Royal Holloway, University of London

Develop understanding of basic concepts in chemistry and physics and how to apply these to geological processes. Coverage includes atoms and atomic structure, periodic table, reactions, equations, geochemical analysis, composition of the earth, phase diagrams, mineral solubility, weathering, hydrological cycle, Newton's Laws, kinematics, circular motion, planetary orbits, gravity, magnetism, electricity, resistivity, stress, strain, seismicity, isostasy, radioactivity, and geochronology.

Develop understanding of skills required to practice geology in the field, carrying out activities in South Devon and Pembrokeshire. Learn to describe and interpret origin of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks; prepare geological maps and cross-sections; examine stereographic projections, sedimentary logging, stratigraphic columns, and structural features using stereonets.

Introduction to 4.6 billion-year history of Earth and skills to interpret that history. Two complementary streams: palaeontology stream considers story of life from origin to dinosaurs and human evolution, covering systematic palaeontology, palaeoecology, palaeobiology, evolution, and taphonomy; sedimentology stream considers earth surface processes and palaeoenvironments, teaching rock classification, textural analysis, facies analysis, graphic logging, palaeoflow analysis, and stratigraphy.

Earth is a dynamic and evolving planet with record of plate tectonic and environmental change over 4.6 billion year history. Explores geological structure and processes that shape Earth and other planets in solar system, from planetary heat engine powering plate motion to surface expression in volcanoes and earthquakes, and use of maps, minerals and rocks to unlock story beneath our feet.

Explore key themes at core of human-Earth interaction such as anthropogenic climate change, geohazards, environmental pollution, and sustainable exploitation of energy resources and energy-critical elements. Next generation of geoscientists required to understand complex interrelations between human activities and changing Earth system.

Describe key principles of academic integrity, focusing on university assignments. Covers plagiarism, collusion and commissioning as activities that undermine academic integrity, and possible consequences of engaging in such activities.

Develop understanding of key events in history of life and their environmental impact using fossil and sedimentary record. Analyse fossil assemblages using stratigraphic principles such as absolute dating, lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy. Interpret sedimentary rocks and examine importance of fossil assemblages in interpretation of earth history events.

Develop understanding of geological evolution of the British Isles, interpreting regional geological history from geological maps. Learn to describe rock specimens and examine how palaeoenvironments can be reconstructed using case studies. Apply stratigraphic techniques and use evidence from several geological fields to evaluate competing hypotheses for geological evolution.

Develop understanding of hazards associated with geological activity, their causes, and approaches to risk management. Cover volcanoes, earthquakes, radon, and hazards associated with exploitation of geological resources and anthropogenic activity including asbestos, mining industry, and contaminated land. Examine geological and geochemical data and interpret these to make scientifically justified decisions on risk level.

Develop understanding of advanced chemical concepts relevant to Earth Sciences. Focus on isotope geochemistry and techniques directly applicable in most geological contexts. Attend practical classes and conduct small project involving analysis and interpretation of real geochemical dataset.

Provide advanced practical skills in interpretation and synthesis of laboratory and field data, supported by literature research, and ability to communicate through presentation and report.

Embed GIS and programming skills for creation, analysis and interpretation of geospatial data and coding skills to facilitate data collection, analysis, modelling and interpretation. Covers origin of GIS, creation of georeferenced point, line and polygon data, combining raster and vector data, data analysis, Python introduction, arrays, reading and writing, branching and repeating, and plotting.

Develop understanding of how to classify sedimentary basins according to tectonic mode of formation. Learn to explain and illustrate basic processes of subsidence and uplift in basins formed by extension and flexural loading of lithosphere. Consider characteristic patterns of sedimentary facies and stratigraphic architecture relating to different basin types and tectonic processes that formed them. Examine tectonosedimentary history of stratigraphic successions in outcrop and subsurface data.

Further develop understanding of igneous and metamorphic geology. Look at characteristics and origins of alkaline igneous rocks, nature and controls on metamorphic reactions, and links between metamorphism and tectonic processes. Consider hand specimen and thin section techniques for study of minerals and igneous and metamorphic rocks. Examine analytical approaches to interpretation of metamorphic rocks, including quantification of metamorphic rates and processes.

Develop understanding of theory and practice of seismic, gravity, magnetic and resistivity surveying. Consider methods used to manipulate, analyse, and display geophysical data to solve geological exploration problems. Examine strengths and weaknesses of different data types.

Develop understanding of how to analyse geological structures in terms of deformational mechanisms and tectonic stresses that have produced them. Look at brittle failure in rocks, fracture types and propagation, and relationship between principal stresses and geologic structures on small and regional scales. Examine remotely sensed continental and marine data sets, and use imagery available in Google Earth for tectonic analysis.

Topics include: global water cycle, structure and properties of water, hydrological cycle and its fluxes, flow to rivers, Darcy's Law and groundwater flow calculations, aquifers – nature and distribution, pumping of water from ground, chemistry of groundwater, pollution and remediation, chemical weathering and water chemistry, types of weathering (silicate, carbonate), karst formation and morphology, cave systems and speleothem development, ocean water and evaporites, ocean islands and water sup

Cover hazards associated with geological activity, their causes and risk management including volcanoes and earthquakes, and those associated with anthropogenic activity such as mining and land contamination. Work in small groups to investigate geohazards pertinent to a city of choice, bringing together all aspects of course including physical, chemical and anthropogenic hazards. Formative assessments draw together geological, numerical and geochemical data requiring analysis and interpretation.

Teach advanced level key geological and transferable skills. Data Handling: lecture and practical course on retrieval and handling of geological data which revises and extends numerical skills from years 1 and 2. Presentation skills: presentation exercise to improve spoken, visual and other communication aspects in geology. Advanced Field Skills: includes data collection, teamwork and site investigations.

Emphasis on sedimentary processes and sedimentary environments. Current topics include: deep marine sedimentary systems and contourite successions, numerical modelling of carbonate platforms, selected topics in carbonate sedimentology, selected topics in glacial sedimentology, interaction of plants and sedimentary systems, extreme sedimentary events, accumulation of banded iron formations.

Overview of modern volcanology. Focus on types of volcanoes and how they form, products of volcanoes, magma diversity, evolution of magmas and age determination, physical and chemical properties of magmas and surface products, magma chamber formation and convection, magma rise to surface. Cover basic methods for monitoring volcanoes, dynamics of volcanic eruptions (effusive and explosive eruptions and their products), vertical and lateral collapses, conduit processes, volcanoes in plate-tectonic

Two main aims: 1) Introduce evidence for and mechanisms of modern climate change – what climate change is, how manifested, physical mechanisms driving it, future status; 2) Methods of research in multi-disciplinary topics, report writing, and communication of complex ideas for policy makers using Earth Science.