Explore Earth history and the evolution of life over 3 ½ billion years prior to the emergence of humanity. Learn about mass extinctions and their causes through geologic time.

Survey via contemporary science journalism the many ways that human activity, past and present, has impacted planet Earth, its land, air and seas and its ecosystems.

Topics will include natural selection, ecosystems and threats to biodiversity, human population growth, development of agriculture and civilization, global land use, resource depletion, endangered fisheries, industrial and agricultural pollution, deforestation, global warming and climate change, ocean acidification and widespread extinctions.

For the fall semester UMASC is offering three courses which have in common interest and concern with life on earth.  Bill Portola’s course “Origins of Human Evolution 2” will deal with the theme of how life came to be and how the environment shaped the course of evolution.  Richard Fortier’s course “Planet of the Humans: The Impact of Humanity on Planet Earth” will have to do with Earth history, the evolution of life and the threat to biodiversity by human-caused habitat degradation and climate change.  Chuck Acker’s course “Going Green In the Anthropocene” will emphasize what society has to do through cultural, political and technological developments to mitigate the effects of climate change.  Students are invited to enroll in all three courses as an integrated package or choose the ones dealing with their particular concern.Classroom

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