Students

GEOS3130 – Earth System History

2021 – Session 2, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Simon George
simon.george@mq.edu.au
Contact via 02 9850 4424
12WW 322
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Lecturer
Stefan Loehr
stefan.loehr@mq.edu.au
Contact via ‭02 9850 8378‬
12WW 334
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Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(GEOS206 or GEOS2130) and 120cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit focuses on the evolution of the Earth as a system. The thin layer of sediments and sedimentary rocks at the Earth's surface contains a unique record of the planet's long history. This record reveals the gradual and at times spectacular (co)evolution of the geological, ocean, atmosphere and biological components which make the planet the complex system that it is today. An understanding of this system is critical for predicting the consequences of future climate and environmental change, the origin and distribution of the resources that are critical to society, and allows us to place modern rates of extinction into a geological context. Lectures and case studies will highlight the fascinating ways in which conditions at the Earth's surface have changed over time. Examples will include the causes and consequences of the rise in atmospheric oxygen, the invasion of land by plants and animals, the fall of the dinosaurs, periods of increased volcanism, as well as episodes of global warming and cooling. Hands-on practicals will give you the skills to read and interpret the physical, chemical and biological clues to the Earth's past, and allow you to critically assess the ongoing scientific controversies in this area. This unit is of interest to those majoring in geology, marine science, palaeobiology and environmental science.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate advanced skills in the identification, petrographic characterisation and interpretation of sedimentary rocks
  • ULO2: Apply stratigraphic principles to the correlation of sedimentary sequences
  • ULO3: Demonstrate an understanding of the links and feedbacks between the geo-, bio-, hydro- and atmosphere and how these have evolved through time
  • ULO4: Demonstrate your ability to critically appraise palaeoenvironmental proxy records, and an understanding of theoretical and empirical basis of proxies
  • ULO5: Describe the major biogeochemical cycles and their link to the climate system
  • ULO6: Apply discipline-specific knowledge to solving problems and evaluating ideas and information

General Assessment Information

On-line quizzes on workshops

After each workshop on Monday a quiz will open to make sure you have read and understood the lecture material, practical, and weekly reading. The 12 quizzes will be available on-line through the iLearn system and together are worth 10% of the unit mark. The quizzes are in each weekly section of iLearn; also see the shortcuts to all quizzes from the “Activities” panel on the right hand side of the iLearn page. You will do the quizzes in your own time, open book, and they will be open until 23:59 on the following Friday (41/2 days to do each of them). The question order will be forced (i.e. you can’t go back to a question later) and random, there will be a time limit of 30 mins on the workshop quizzes, and you only get one go. There is no workshop or quiz in week 13 (oral presentation day). The 10% quiz mark will be derived by summing all 12 of the lecture quizzes and normalising. Each quiz is worth the same amount.

 

Assignment

You will be given specific details of what is expected for the Earth System Science Research Report (20%) when it is released. The assignment will involve a written research report, in which your use of English and referencing the source of your ideas is important. The assignments will be released to you on iLearn in Week 2, and will be discussed in that week’s workshop.

The assignment is essay based, so skill at writing reports is important. The assignment topic must be fully researched and the report written in your own words. Cutting and pasting information from web pages is NOT acceptable. Information you obtain from other sources (brief quotes, images, ideas) must be fully referenced in the text (author, year), with references listed at the end of the essay (year, author, title, journal or link). The assignment will be submitted for turnitin checking and grademark assessment through iLearn. You will not need to produce hard copy. The assignment will be due on Wednesday of Week 6 (1st September) at 5pm.

LATE PENALTIES (loss of marks) will apply for work that is late where no extension has been granted: it is a 5% per day penalty for late work (i.e. 1/20 of the marks allocated to the exercise will be deducted for each day that the work is late).

Oral: Earth System Evolution presentation, addressing a topical question in Earth System Science and Historical Geology

A long list of possible topics for the oral presentations (20%) will be released in week 10. You will have the choice to pick a topic from this list. First come first served! The presentations will be in week 13, and will be for approximately 10 mins each, including questions. The presentations will be marked by academic staff on the unit and some invited postdocs/PhD students from DEES, as well as by peer assessment (you…!).

 

Mid-semester test

The mid-semester test (10%) will occur at the start of the week 7 workshop on Monday 6 September, in the week before the semester break. It will be a short test of the week 1–6 lectures, unit reading material, and practical exercises. The educational rationale for the mid-semester test is to check that you are on track in terms of your learnings from the unit.

 

Final Exam

The unit examination (40%) will be based on lectures, unit reading material, practical exercises, information you should have absorbed through completing the assignment and oral presentation, and any other material presented during classes.

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Earth System Evolution presentations 20% No 1/11/21
Weekly Quiz 10% No Fridays midnight throughout semester
Stratigraphy & Earth System Science report 20% No 1/9/21
Mid-term test and final exam 50% No 6/9/21 and exam period

Earth System Evolution presentations

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 1/11/21
Weighting: 20%

Presentation addressing a range of topical questions in Earth System Science and Historical Geology
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the links and feedbacks between the geo-, bio-, hydro- and atmosphere and how these have evolved through time
  • Demonstrate your ability to critically appraise palaeoenvironmental proxy records, and an understanding of theoretical and empirical basis of proxies
  • Describe the major biogeochemical cycles and their link to the climate system
  • Apply discipline-specific knowledge to solving problems and evaluating ideas and information

Weekly Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 6 hours
Due: Fridays midnight throughout semester
Weighting: 10%

Weekly online quiz covering material from lecture, practical and weekly readings
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate advanced skills in the identification, petrographic characterisation and interpretation of sedimentary rocks
  • Apply stratigraphic principles to the correlation of sedimentary sequences
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the links and feedbacks between the geo-, bio-, hydro- and atmosphere and how these have evolved through time
  • Demonstrate your ability to critically appraise palaeoenvironmental proxy records, and an understanding of theoretical and empirical basis of proxies

Stratigraphy & Earth System Science report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 1/9/21
Weighting: 20%

Report evaluating a topical issue or fundamental concept in Stratigraphy or Earth System Science
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply stratigraphic principles to the correlation of sedimentary sequences
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the links and feedbacks between the geo-, bio-, hydro- and atmosphere and how these have evolved through time
  • Demonstrate your ability to critically appraise palaeoenvironmental proxy records, and an understanding of theoretical and empirical basis of proxies
  • Describe the major biogeochemical cycles and their link to the climate system

Mid-term test and final exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 6/9/21 and exam period
Weighting: 50%

Based on practical, multiple-choice and written questions covering material from lectures, practicals, readings.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate advanced skills in the identification, petrographic characterisation and interpretation of sedimentary rocks
  • Apply stratigraphic principles to the correlation of sedimentary sequences
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the links and feedbacks between the geo-, bio-, hydro- and atmosphere and how these have evolved through time
  • Demonstrate your ability to critically appraise palaeoenvironmental proxy records, and an understanding of theoretical and empirical basis of proxies
  • Describe the major biogeochemical cycles and their link to the climate system

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Classes and contact hours

Attend the five-hour workshop each week.

11 Wally’s Walk, 210, Mondays, 09:00-14:00.

Each 5 hour workshop will include about 60 mins to 90 mins of mini-lectures, with the rest of the time spent on practical activities. The lecture material will mostly be delivered in small blocks, interspersed with the practicals. The mini-lectures may be at any time during the workshop, as decided by the person teaching each week. The lectures will typically give a broad overview of the topics, provide background information and introduce new ideas and concepts that link in with the practical activities. The lectures will be interactive, with questions and answers throughout. The lectures will be recorded using Echo 360 active learning (audio and screen capture; first 3 hours of each workshop), and files of the lecture graphics will also be made available through iLearn. These will be particularly useful for revision purposes.

At the moment this unit is set to be delivered with workshops on campus. It is possible that COVID-19 will disrupt these plans during semester 2. For up-to-date information from the university about precautions to take during semester 2, please visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection latest information pages.

 

 

Textbook and Readings

Unit Schedule

see information in iLearn

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

Since 2020 there was a minor reordering of the unit content.

Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook