| Unit name | Geobiology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EASC20024 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2C (weeks 13 - 18) |
| Unit director | Dr. Witts |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Mandatory Year 1 units of an Environmental Geoscience, Geology or Palaeontology and Evolution degree programme at Bristol. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
n/a |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
none |
| School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Geobiology is the study of the interactions that occur between the biosphere (living organisms and their products) and the geosphere (the Earth and its atmosphere). Geobiology encompasses the fields of astrobiology, biogeochemistry, geomicrobiology, isotope geochemistry and palaeobiology.
The unit has the immodest aim of unraveling the majority of evolutionary history – from life’s origin, through LUCA (the Last Universal Common Ancestor), the emergence of unicellular ‘bacterial’ lineages that still dominate life on Earth, to the origin of eukaryotes and conclude with the origin of animals. This is the portion of evolutionary history that is not conventionally taught, because the evidence cannot be read simply from the fossil record, but encompasses disciplines as diverse as biogeochemistry, molecular biology and isotope geochemistry. Organised around the architecture of the Tree of Life, this unit will explore not only the multifarious lines of evidence for the evolutionary emergence of various groups, but also their consequence for shaping the biosphere, the evolution of biogeochemical cycles and global environmental change.
On successful completion of the unit you will be able to:
The unit will be taught through a combination of
Students who either begin or continue their studies in an online mode may be required to complete practical work, or alternative activities in person, either during the academic year 2020/21 or subsequently, in order to meet the intended learning outcomes for the unit, prepare them for subsequent units or to satisfy accreditation requirements.
Coursework 100% - comprising two reports in 'Biology Letters' journal format interpreting the results of laboratory exercises (2500 words each).
Report 1 is formative and Report 2 is worth 100%. Formative feedback will be provided on Report 1 in preparation for writing Report 2.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EASC20024).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
