This is the gateway unit of study for Human Geography, Physical Geography, Environmental Studies and Geology. Its objective is to introduce the big questions relating to the origins and current state of the planet: climate change, environment, landscape formation, and the growth of the human population. During the semester you will be introduced to knowledge, theories and debates about how the world's physical and human systems operate. The first module investigates the evolution of the planet through geological time, with a focus on major Earth systems such as plate tectonics and mantle convection and their interaction with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and human civilisations. The second module presents Earth as an evolving and dynamic planet, investigating global environmental change, addressing climate variability and human impacts on the natural environment and the rate at which these changes occur and how they have the potential to dramatically affect the way we live. Finally, the third module focuses on human-induced challenges to Earth's future. This part of the unit critically analyses the relationships between people and their environments, with central consideration to debates on population change, resource use and the policy contexts of climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Advanced students will complete the same core lecture material as for GEOS1001, but will be required to carry out more challenging practical assignments.

Geosciences is the most interdisciplinary of all STEM disciplines. The study of Earth will allow you to build a wide range of transferable skills that can be used to address global challenges and are highly valued by employers. To predict the future of our planet and plan a sustainable future for our societies, we need to understand Earth's past. Geoscientists examine the rock record to understand the biological, chemical, physical, and mechanical processes that control the evolution of the Earth's lithosphere, i.e., the Earth's outer shell where the biosphere inhabits. In GEOS1003, you will explore how the Earth System works and evolves. You will learn how life evolves with time, continents form and disappear, mountains emerge, river systems shape Earth's surface, Earth resources form, and tectonic forces control the geology of our planet. You will develop knowledge on the processes that lead to natural hazards (e.g., volcanoes, earthquakes) and how you can use geosciences to build resilient societies. The unit includes a combination of lectures, hands-on laboratories with emphasis on problem-solving, and fieldwork to examine geological objects and processes in their natural setting.

This unit has the same objectives as GEOS1003 and is suitable for students who wish to pursue aspects of the subject in greater depth. Entry is restricted and selection is made from the applicants on the basis of their ATAR or UAI and/or their university performance at the time of enrolment. Students that elect to take this unit will participate in alternatives to some aspects of the standard unit and will be required to pursue independent work to meet unit objectives. This unit may be taken as part of the BSc (Advanced).

Through the millennia, volcanoes have provided key material for hominids extending from fertile soils and obsidian spear points, to copper for wind turbines. On occasion, their explosive behaviour has also ended civilisations. In this unit of study, you will develop an understanding of the formation and dynamics of volcanoes, their role as a carbon-source during their build-up, carbon-sink through their weathering and the production of fertile soils. You will explore how volcanoes sustain biodiversity hubs from the deep ocean-floor (black and white smokers) to the green slopes of volcanoes such as Kilimanjaro. You will develop a deep understanding of key magmatic processes that underpin the formation of Earth resources critical for a transition to a clean economy and a sustainable future. You will observe, document and analyse magmatic rocks in the field (during a 2-day field trip to study an extinct volcano in New South Wales or an optional 10-day trip to New Zealand's North Island).

This unit has the same objectives as GEOS2114 and is suitable for students who wish to pursue aspects of the subject in greater depth. Entry is restricted and selection is made from the applicants on the basis of their performance to date. Students that elect to take this unit will participate in alternatives to some aspects of the standard unit and will be required to pursue independent work to meet unit objectives. This unit may be taken as part of the BSc (Advanced).

The Earth's environments are continuously disrupted by astronomical, geological, and anthropogenic processes acting at various temporal and spatial scales. Understanding the rise, decline and resilience of past life-forms and environments is key to assessing the future sustainability of our environment and the ecosystems it supports (cf. UN Sustainable Development Goals 14 and 15). In this unit of study, you will develop a deeper understanding of Earth as a life-support system and will learn how the Earth's rich and changing biodiversity through time is used, in conjunction with other methods, to timestamp the 4.5-billion-year history of our planet. You will discover how the Earth's sediments are record-keepers of environmental and biological change and how tectonic processes and the landscapes they create can shape Earth's climate, and enhance the resilience of species to climate change. You will learn the techniques to document and interpret past environments and past geological settings by integrating and interpreting multi-dimensional datasets including fossils, stratigraphy, and structural data. During a week-long field geological excursion (near Yass), you will be exposed to an ancient reef system disrupted by geological processes associated with a long-lived subduction zone, which will sharpen your observation skills and 3D geological thinking.

This unit has the same objectives as GEOS2124 and is suitable for students who wish to pursue aspects of the subject in greater depth. Entry is restricted and selection is made from the applicants on the basis of their performance to date. Students that elect to take this unit will participate in alternatives to some aspects of the standard unit and will be required to pursue independent work to meet unit objectives. This unit may be taken as part of the BSc (Advanced).

Understanding the processes by which the Earth is shaped, rock systems evolve, and mineral resources are formed, is key to address the challenges of sustainable development (cf. UN Sustainable Goals 1, 2, 7, 8, 12). The geological record accessible at the Earth's surface provides detailed insights into Earth's processes and past geological crises that have punctuated the long Earth's history. GEOS3008 offers a unique experience through field-based immersive learning, and the opportunity to develop a flair for 3-dimensional geological thinking. In this unit of study, you will collect data in the field to understand not only the geology hidden underneath the Earth's surface, but also the geology that once was above it and now lost through erosion. You will learn to decode the temperature, pressure and strain history of metamorphic rocks. You will sharpen your problem-solving skills by combining and applying knowledge from various geoscience subdisciplines to decode rock systems (e.g., sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic). You will learn to identify and address in the field geological problems by designing and implementing a plan of field data collection, analysis and interpretation to test multiple hypotheses. Through exposure to field-based investigations, you will learn to integrate the uncertainties inherent in natural studies, and you will become confident in exploring complex Earth systems. Moving to the future of field geology, you will use digital technology to collect and analyse geological data, gaining appreciation of open data sharing and cybertechnology in Earth Sciences. You will learn to synthesize field observations into four-dimensional models that describe the geological evolution of an area.

This unit has the same objectives as GEOS3008 and is suitable for students who wish to pursue aspects of the subject in greater depth. Entry is restricted and selection is made from the applicants on the basis of their performance at the time of enrolment. Students who elect to take this unit will participate in alternatives to some aspects of the standard unit and will be required to pursue independent work to meet unit objectives. Specific details for this unit of study will be announced in meetings with students in week prior to the field camp which is usually in the break between semester 1 and 2. This unit of study may be taken as part of the BSc (Advanced).

Planet Earth is a complex system in which exchanges of matter and energy across its various components has maintained the permanent state of change needed for the emergence of the Earth's biosphere and its sustainability over billions of years. As the present existential crises show, from climate change to the collapse of biodiversity, the Earth's biosphere, its atmosphere and ocean, its landscapes, the Earth's lithosphere and the Earth's deep interior are tightly coupled. In such a system, no component can be understood in isolation from the others. In GEOS3101, you will learn how we probe the deep Earth interior, what powers mantle dynamics, plate tectonics, and surface dynamics, and how they impact on climate change. You will gain an appreciation and understanding of the feedback loops between the Earth's surface, tectonic processes, mantle dynamics and climate. During the practical classes, you will learn and apply a range of investigative methodologies to unravel the geodynamic of the Earth from the deep mantle to the Earth's surface. You will learn to decode the temperature, pressure and strain history of metamorphic rocks, and to decode the morphology, and assess the potential biodiversity of ancient and future landscapes by characterizing their physical properties. You will develop and apply knowledge relevant to heat and mass transfer, rocks’ rheology, fluvial incision and hillslope diffusion to design and run computer simulations to explore complex geodynamic, tectonic and surface processes.

This unit has the same objectives as GEOS3101 and is suitable for students who wish to pursue aspects of the subject in greater depth. Entry is restricted and selection is made from the applicants on the basis of their performance at the time of enrolment. Students who elect to take this unit will participate in alternatives to some aspects of the standard unit and will be required to pursue independent work to meet unit objectives. Specific details for this unit of study will be announced in meetings with students in week 1 of semester.

Sediments and sedimentary rocks cover most of the Earth's surface, record much of the Earth's geological and climatic history and host important resources such as petroleum, coal, water and mineral ores. The aim of this unit is to provide students with the skills required to examine, describe and interpret sediments and sedimentary rocks for a variety of different purposes. Specific foci of the unit will be the identification of the recent or ancient environment in which sedimentary materials were deposited, the environmental controls which produce sedimentary structures, and the processes that control the production, movement and storage of sediment bodies. On completion of this unit students will be familiar with the natural processes that produce and modify sediments across a range of environments at the Earth's surface, including fluvial, aeolian, lacustrine, marginal marine and deep marine environments. The various controls on the sedimentary record such as climate and sea-level change, as well as diagenesis and geochemical cycles will also be discussed. Practical exercises will require students to examine global datasets, and determine the properties and significance of sediments and sedimentary rocks. The course is relevant to students interested in petroleum or mineral exploration, environmental and engineering geology as well as marine geoscience.

This unit has the same objectives as GEOS3103 and is suitable for students who wish to pursue aspects of the subject in greater depth. Entry is restricted and selection is made from the applicants on the basis of their performance at the time of enrolment. Students who elect to take this unit will participate in alternatives to some aspects of the standard unit and will be required to pursue independent work to meet unit objectives. Specific details for this unit of study will be announced in meetings with students in week 1 of semester.

The fields of geology and geophysics play a critical role in securing resources for a low-emissions economy. They are equally relevant in assessing the severity and longevity of modern society's impacts on surface environment, involving complex economic, environmental and societal issues. The unit introduces methods involved in imaging and monitoring the Earth, including gravity, magnetic and seismic methods, applied on land, at sea, and from the air, and covers how these can be used, in combination with geological observations and modern data science methods, to explore for critical metals and to monitor surface environments. These approaches can also be used for mapping the deep structure of sedimentary basins and continental margins, important for understanding groundwater dynamics, carbon sequestration and some natural hazards, including earthquakes and tsunamis. Using the geology of Australia as a natural laboratory, this unit of study presents projects ranging from learning how to create digital ore deposit prospectivity maps to projects tackling environmental issues. Organized in multi-disciplinary teams, students will combine geological and geophysical data with machine learning approaches to explore the information content in the data and understand how this approach can be used to solve practical problems.

This interdisciplinary unit provides students with the opportunity to address complex problems identified by industry, community, and government organisations, and gain valuable experience in working across disciplinary boundaries. In collaboration with a major industry partner and an academic lead, students integrate their academic skills and knowledge by working in teams with students from a range of disciplinary backgrounds. This experience allows students to research, analyse and present solutions to a real-world problem, and to build on their interpersonal and transferable skills by engaging with and learning from industry experts and presenting their ideas and solutions to the industry partner.

Understanding the processes by which the Earth is shaped, rock systems evolve, and mineral resources are formed, is key to address the challenges of sustainable development (cf. UN Sustainable Goals 1, 2, 7, 8, 12). The geological record accessible at the Earth's surface provides detailed insights into Earth's processes and past geological crises that have punctuated the long Earth's history. GEOS3008 offers a unique experience through field-based immersive learning, and the opportunity to develop a flair for 3-dimensional geological thinking. In this unit of study, you will collect data in the field to understand not only the geology hidden underneath the Earth's surface, but also the geology that once was above it and now lost through erosion. You will learn to decode the temperature, pressure and strain history of metamorphic rocks. You will sharpen your problem-solving skills by combining and applying knowledge from various geoscience subdisciplines to decode rock systems (e.g., sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic). You will learn to identify and address in the field geological problems by designing and implementing a plan of field data collection, analysis and interpretation to test multiple hypotheses. Through exposure to field-based investigations, you will learn to integrate the uncertainties inherent in natural studies, and you will become confident in exploring complex Earth systems. Moving to the future of field geology, you will use digital technology to collect and analyse geological data, gaining appreciation of open data sharing and cybertechnology in Earth Sciences. You will learn to synthesize field observations into four-dimensional models that describe the geological evolution of an area.

This unit has the same objectives as GEOS3008 and is suitable for students who wish to pursue aspects of the subject in greater depth. Entry is restricted and selection is made from the applicants on the basis of their performance at the time of enrolment. Students who elect to take this unit will participate in alternatives to some aspects of the standard unit and will be required to pursue independent work to meet unit objectives. Specific details for this unit of study will be announced in meetings with students in week prior to the field camp which is usually in the break between semester 1 and 2. This unit of study may be taken as part of the BSc (Advanced).

Planet Earth is a complex system in which exchanges of matter and energy across its various components has maintained the permanent state of change needed for the emergence of the Earth's biosphere and its sustainability over billions of years. As the present existential crises show, from climate change to the collapse of biodiversity, the Earth's biosphere, its atmosphere and ocean, its landscapes, the Earth's lithosphere and the Earth's deep interior are tightly coupled. In such a system, no component can be understood in isolation from the others. In GEOS3101, you will learn how we probe the deep Earth interior, what powers mantle dynamics, plate tectonics, and surface dynamics, and how they impact on climate change. You will gain an appreciation and understanding of the feedback loops between the Earth's surface, tectonic processes, mantle dynamics and climate. During the practical classes, you will learn and apply a range of investigative methodologies to unravel the geodynamic of the Earth from the deep mantle to the Earth's surface. You will learn to decode the temperature, pressure and strain history of metamorphic rocks, and to decode the morphology, and assess the potential biodiversity of ancient and future landscapes by characterizing their physical properties. You will develop and apply knowledge relevant to heat and mass transfer, rocks’ rheology, fluvial incision and hillslope diffusion to design and run computer simulations to explore complex geodynamic, tectonic and surface processes.

This unit has the same objectives as GEOS3101 and is suitable for students who wish to pursue aspects of the subject in greater depth. Entry is restricted and selection is made from the applicants on the basis of their performance at the time of enrolment. Students who elect to take this unit will participate in alternatives to some aspects of the standard unit and will be required to pursue independent work to meet unit objectives. Specific details for this unit of study will be announced in meetings with students in week 1 of semester.

Sediments and sedimentary rocks cover most of the Earth's surface, record much of the Earth's geological and climatic history and host important resources such as petroleum, coal, water and mineral ores. The aim of this unit is to provide students with the skills required to examine, describe and interpret sediments and sedimentary rocks for a variety of different purposes. Specific foci of the unit will be the identification of the recent or ancient environment in which sedimentary materials were deposited, the environmental controls which produce sedimentary structures, and the processes that control the production, movement and storage of sediment bodies. On completion of this unit students will be familiar with the natural processes that produce and modify sediments across a range of environments at the Earth's surface, including fluvial, aeolian, lacustrine, marginal marine and deep marine environments. The various controls on the sedimentary record such as climate and sea-level change, as well as diagenesis and geochemical cycles will also be discussed. Practical exercises will require students to examine global datasets, and determine the properties and significance of sediments and sedimentary rocks. The course is relevant to students interested in petroleum or mineral exploration, environmental and engineering geology as well as marine geoscience.

This unit has the same objectives as GEOS3103 and is suitable for students who wish to pursue aspects of the subject in greater depth. Entry is restricted and selection is made from the applicants on the basis of their performance at the time of enrolment. Students who elect to take this unit will participate in alternatives to some aspects of the standard unit and will be required to pursue independent work to meet unit objectives. Specific details for this unit of study will be announced in meetings with students in week 1 of semester.