Precambrian paleobiogeology

Duration

20h Th, 10h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Emmanuelle Javaux

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The origin and early evolution of life
This course will present the geological evolution of early Earth, the origin of Life, and the diversification of the three domains of life in the precambrian (the first 4 billion years). The multidisciplinary methods and challenges involved in studying the early evolution of life will be discussed.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of the class, the student has to be able to:

-understand the methods used and challenges 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 and present it to the class (ppt presentation)
-manage a round table

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

notions of geology and biology
 

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

the course includes classes, exercices of microscopic observations and analyses of microfossils, and paper presentations and discussion
-face-to-face and podcasts
-discussion of articles during class
-synthesis of an article, oral presentation with ppt, animation of a round table
-macro- and microscopic observation of rocks and fossils and exercice
-visit of labs




 

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Blended learning


Additional information:

In addition to face-to-face or online teaching and illustrations with material (rocks, fossils, podcasts), and exercices of observations of microfossils, the students present an article and manage a round table
 

Recommended or required readings

 
Professor 's Powerpoint presentations  and papers on line in MyULg
reference booksand podcasts
Konhauser K, 2007. introduction to geomicrobiology
Gargaud M, Claeys P, Lopez-Garcia P, Martin H, Montmerle T, Pascal R, Reisse J (eds) 2006, 2012 . From suns to life (online in ULiege library)
Fundamentals of Geobiology Cambridge univ press 2012 (Knoll et al editors)
podcasts (see www.earlylife.uliege.be)
 














 

Assessment methods and criteria

Continuous assessment


Additional information:

the evaluation will include:
the synthesis and presentation of an article and animation of discussion in class: 50%
participation to the discussion of articles presented by other students: 25%
work and results during the praticals: 25%
presence to these diverse activities is mandatory
 

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

tuesdays 8-12 am, Q1

Contacts

ej.javaux@uliege.be

Items online