Sustainable Earth
Earth resources are under tremendous strain. Our use of these resources is growing at a rate that far outstrips the rapid increase in global population growth. We are now at the point that our use of things as basic as water and oil is no longer sustainable.
We will discuss the realities of resource formation, extraction, use, and pollution. For example, how does oil form? How do we extract it from the Earth and how much is there left? We will also discuss the alternatives — what do we do when all the oil is gone? Is ethanol a good alternative fuel? Are hydrogen fuels cells the answer?
Students will leave this class with a greater understanding of earth resources and what we can do to ensure that our grandchildren can maintain the standard of living that we have today.
The courses that compose this community are Geology 105, Sustainable Earth; Philosophy 200, Ethics; English Composition, either EN 101 or 103; and FLC 101.
The director of the FLC is Professor Andrew M. Goodliffe of the Department of Geological Sciences. His principle research interest is the breakup of continents and the initiation of seafloor spreading — with particular emphasis on Papua New Guinea. Originally from the United Kingdom, he came to Alabama via Alaska and Hawaii, with short interludes in Texas and California.