What will I learn?
The online Earth resources course (in its free or paid mode), Geoscience: the Earth and its Resources, explores into the fascinating realm of geoscience and uncover the Earth’s abundant resources, from minerals to energy reserves.
Designed for curious learners of all backgrounds, this course introduces fundamental concepts in geology, mineralogy, and environmental science. Whether you’re a student seeking to expand your knowledge or a professional looking to understand Earth’s processes better, this course offers valuable insights. High school mathematics, physics and natural sciences is highly recommended. The course has a rigorous and didactic approach, which combines clear and simple explanations with examples and activities that will help you consolidate your learning. The course also offers you additional resources, such as readings, videos and links of interest, that you can consult to expand your knowledge and deepen the topics that interest you the most.
This course is available on the edX platform, one of the world’s most prestigious online education platforms, founded by MIT and Harvard University. It can be taken completely free of charge or for a small fee.
Contents of the online Earth resources course, Geoscience: the Earth and its Resources
These are the contents of the course:
- Geological Foundations: In this section, we’ll explore the Earth’s crust, mantle, and core. Understand plate tectonics, rock formations, and geological processes that have shaped our planet over millions of years.
- Mineral Wealth: Dive into the fascinating world of minerals. Learn about mineral identification techniques, mining practices, and sustainable resource management. Discover how minerals contribute to our daily lives and industrial processes.
- Energy Resources: Investigate the diverse landscape of energy sources. From fossil fuels to renewable energy, we’ll delve into their extraction, utilization, and environmental impact. Understand the role of geoscience in energy exploration and production.
- Water and Soil: Study Earth’s vital resources—water and soil. Explore the water cycle, aquifers, and groundwater. Learn about soil composition, erosion, and land degradation. Discover how these resources sustain life and ecosystems.
- Natural Hazards: Brace yourself for a journey through natural disasters. We’ll delve into earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides. Understand how geoscience helps predict, mitigate, and manage these hazards for safer communities.
Paid or free Earth resources course
The course has two modalities: free and paid. The free Earth resources course, allows you to access all the content of the course, including the videos, the readings, the exercises and the discussion forums.
The paid modality also offers you the possibility of obtaining a verified certificate from edX, which accredits your participation and approval of the course. This certificate can be of great value for your curriculum vitae, as it demonstrates your interest and competence in geoscience. In addition, by paying for the course, you will be contributing to Delft University of Technology and edX being able to continue offering quality and accessible courses for everyone. If you want to know more about the cost and benefits of this modality, I invite you to visit the course page on edX, where you will find all the information you need.
In conclusion, the online Earth resources course (in its free or paid mode), Geoscience: the Earth and its Resources, will teach you essential knowledge about our planet’s geological foundations, mineral wealth, energy resources, water, soil, and natural hazards. Don’t miss out, enroll now and become an Earth explorer!
