"What does plate tectonics have to do with the availability of natural resources? Are we running out of soil and water? How is the climate changing? Building on basic physical and chemical principles, we will focus on understanding the geological, hydrological, and atmospheric cycles that shape our environment and our human society.

"We will investigate how continents, landscapes, oceans, freshwater reservoirs, and the atmosphere interact, which processes are taking place to change them, and how are they affected by human action. Understanding of the concepts will be deepened by laboratory activities and a field trip."

Image Credits, left to right: Copyright © CTVglobemedia Inc.; Warren Gretz, National Renewable Energy Laboratory; U.S. Dept of Commerce