An Eye to the Future

Overview and Objectives

For this last module assignment of the course, your task is to write a short report about a connection between our modern society and its interactions with the planet. Below are three standard prompts that you may choose for your writing – please make it clear which prompt you are choosing, even if you think it’s obvious (I recommend copy-pasting the first sentence of your chosen prompt to the top of your written report). If you would like to choose your own topic in a similar vein, send me a note with your proposal & I will give it a look over and some approval.

Prompts

1. Identify and research an ongoing or emerging environmental or geohealth issue. What is the source of this problem? Where does this issue fit into the Earth system? How is this issue highlighting a ink between humans/society and the so-called ‘natural’ world? Where does this issue fit into the hydrologic/tectonic/carbon cycle? Are people doing anything about it? If so, what, and if not, why not?

2. Identify and research an emerging technology that alters the way we interact with the Earth, for better or worse. What is the technology and how is it similar/different to earlier tech in regards to its impact on the Earth and its environment (in creation, disposal, and/or use)? Do you agree or disagree that this is a technology that will ultimately benefit humanity? Have people considered how this tech will alter the planet or our relationship with the Earth? Any issues that appear to not have been taken into consideration?

3. Choose a material object from your life and trace it back to its geologic source. What material(s) make up your chosen object? Which elements have gone into the creation of those materials? What are the geologic sources of those materials? Are their any environmental or health concerns related to the extraction and processing of those resources?

Instructions

Assignment write-ups should be around 1000 words (loose requirement), double-spaced, and submitted as a digital upload (.doc, .docx, or .pdf). Work that is copied / plagiarized from online sources or other students will not be accepted.

Reports should include at least one relevant picture, map, chart, figure, or diagram, and cite at least two relevant sources (APA format preferred). Alternatively, you may submit a powerpoint presentation or short video as your report, as long as all the asked-for information is covered, including citing sources.

Reference material needs to include the geological perspective, but do not need to be primary sources (scientific articles, research papers, etc.) – they can be secondary sources such as journal/magazine/website articles, textbooks, encyclopedia entries which describe, interpret, synthesize, and/or summarize primary sources.

Late submissions accepted at a 10% per day penalty.