ERTH 209: Introduction to Geology

This activity uses the Visible Geology web app to build, manipulate, and interpret 3D geological block diagrams. Students simulate geological processes such as tilting, faulting, intrusion, erosion, and unconformity formation, then analyze the results through map view, borehole data, and cross-sections. The exercise culminates in creating an original geologic history using multiple phenomena, encouraging exploration of spatial relationships between geological structures.

This dramatization of the Age of the Earth Debate uses storytelling to make scientific concepts more relatable and memorable. Performed by students, the debate weaves historical and scientific perspectives into a narrative format, fostering engagement, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of geology’s development. Video links allow students to experience the performance firsthand.

This activity guides students through using the IRIS earthquake browser to understand the dynamics of the earth through its seismicity.

This article explores how geologic knowledge develops through observation, interpretation, and debate, rather than a simple step-by-step scientific method. It highlights the roles of fieldwork, laboratory analysis, models, assumptions, and even chance discoveries in shaping our understanding of Earth’s history. Through historical examples, it shows how new evidence and better explanations can shift scientific consensus over time.