ESC-10104 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

This module will provide you with the key concepts and knowledge of Earth scientific processes and how these processes interact and define the environment that surrounds us. You will gain a detailed insight into the various endogenic and exogenic processes that shaped our planet and keep changing it up to this day. It will provide you with an understanding on how life emerged and evolved - and how life as a biological component interacts with and transforms the inorganic components of the 'System Earth'. Furthermore, it will provide you with the fundamental knowledge of the core concepts of chemical processes that act within and upon our environment. Employing an engaging teaching approach of interactive lectures combined with indoor and outdoor practicals as well as tutorial
sessions, it will examine in detail the chemistry and chemical processes of our atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and soil zone. It will provide you with a detailed insight and understanding of the major naturally occurring chemical cycles that not only surround us, but drive and maintain
the global ecosystem (e.g. phosphorus-, nitrogen-, carbon- and water cycles) and introduce you to a wide array of state-of-the-art analytical methods such as Fourier-Transform IR spectroscopy, secondary electron and backscatter electron analysis, energy-dispersive analysis of X-rays and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy.

This module explores the dynamic systems of Planet Earth, focusing on the interconnections between the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. You will examine geological processes, weather and climate, oceanography, ecosystems, and be introduced to environmental analytics. Emphasis is placed on human impact on these systems, environmental sustainability, and contemporary issues such as climate change and resource management. Through lectures, lab work, and field studies, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of Earth's environment and the challenges it faces.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Describe and interpret endogenic, exogenic, and palaeobiological processes: 1
Describe and interpret the evolution and history of Life: 1
Analyse, interpret and present data obtained via various analytical methods (e.g. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), Fourier-Transform-IR spectroscopy (FTIR), secondary- and backscattered electron analysis (SE-BSE), energy-dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX)).: 2
Report the purpose, methodology, data and interpretation of environmental chemical analyses by using the appropriate chemical vocabulary/terminology, chemical symbols and chemical information.: 2

Study hours

Active learning hours: 120 hrs (24 hrs interactive lectures, 72 hrs practical/tutorial sessions, 24 hrs structured engagement with online resources).
Independent study hours: 180 hrs (recommended are 40 hrs on background reading/online teaching materials/reviewing module content and 140 hrs for the preparation, drafting and writing of the two assessments).

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment