GEOL1022-2 : Evolution of the biosphere in the Precambrian

Study Programmes 2016-2017

GEOL1022-2

Evolution of the biosphere in the Precambrian

Duration :

20h Th, 10h Pr

Number of credits :

Master in biology of organisms and ecology (120 ECTS)		3
Master in geology (120 ECTS)		3
Master in geology (60 ECTS)		3

Lecturer :

Emmanuelle Javaux

Language(s) of instruction :

French language

Organisation and examination :

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents :

This course will discuss the geological evolution of early Earth, the orgin of Life, and the diversification of the three domains of life in the precambrian, well before the Phanerozoic. The multidisciplinary methods and challenges involved in studying the early evolution of life between 3.8 and 0.54 billions years will be presented.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit :

At the end of the class, the student has to be able to:
-understand the methods used to study precambrian traces of life
-know the geological history of the precambrian Earth

-know the major steps of evolution within the various clades of the tree of life
-summarize a topic/a chapter and present it to the class (poster, ppt presentation)

Prerequisite knowledge and skills :

notions of geology and biology

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

-discussion during class
-summarizing a topic, make a poster/ppt, and its oral presentation
-macro- and microscopic observation of rocks and fossils
-visit of labs

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

In addition to face-to-face teaching and illustrations with material (rocks, fossils, video) by the professor an the students.
the students are very much involved in preparing and presneting part of the course in diverses formats (ppt, poster, written summary)