New Geology Class This Spring
In Spring 2024, PVCC will be offering a new course for students interested in geology, Earth Systems: An Environmental Geology Perspective (GOL 110). It is a Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) approved transfer course and fulfills a transfer course requirement. The class will meet weekly via Zoom on Wednesdays and will include an eight-day Spring Break trip to Costa Rica. There are no prerequisites, but Associate Professor of Geology Callan Bentley says it is ideal for students to have taken GOL 105 or 106 before or while taking this class.
GOL 110 will cover environmental geology and the connections between geology and people. The Costa Rica trip will offer students the opportunity to experience the topics discussed in the course like volcanoes, landslides, erosion, and pollution. All students are welcome and should anticipate a field course experience, such as less-than-ideal weather conditions, lots of driving, and lots of work with other students.
“The application of geological principles to serve the needs of human well-being is one of the most straightforward rationales for studying Earth science,” said Bentley. “Visiting a country like Costa Rica forces students to move beyond simplistic dismissals like ‘Why would anyone live next to a volcano?’ and towards understanding of the many different social and environmental factors worth considering. I’m particularly excited to take students to coastal outcrops near our ecovilla in Esterillos Oeste, so they can see ancient Pacific seafloor rocks that have been plastered onto the Central American mainland during the course of subduction. Another highlight will be visiting a sea turtle protection program, hiking in several national parks, and crossing a tombolo at low tide. We will also study coastal wave dynamics from the perspective of a surfboard!”
If you have any questions about the class, contact Bentley at CBentley@pvcc.edu or your academic adviser.
