April 1, 2007 - 5:00pm
For the first time, Malaspina University-College is offering a minor in earth science for bachelor of arts and bachelor of science students.
This new minor is designed to provide foundational knowledge about the earth’s materials, processes, resources and history. Earth science is a multidisciplinary field in which the principles of chemistry, physics and mathematics are applied to understand how the earth works and to solve the problems of the physical world.
“Students will learn a whole range of different things about earth science,” said Dr. Tim Stokes, chair of Malaspina’s geology department. “They will learn how the earth was formed, the processes that occur within the earth and on its surface, and how we can apply these ideas to specific problems and issues.”
The minor in earth science can be applied to a bachelor of science or a bachelor of arts degree. Field-based studies, cooperative learning and the development of scientific communication skills are fundamental to the program.
“It’s the kind of science everyone should learn about because it confronts the challenges facing us regarding energy, resources and the environment,” said Stokes. “Earth science is fundamental to all the sciences. We need to understand the workings of the earth because we depend on it for our future.”
Malaspina student Lorill Ireland sees the new earth science minor as a great option for interested students. “Everyone deserves the right to understand their world and that’s what geology is all about. It puts the planet in perspective,” she said.
Ireland, a former paramedic and nursing student who is currently taking a bachelor of arts in liberal studies, as well as a bachelor of science with minors in both earth science and chemistry, knew she had found something she loved when she enrolled in an environmental geology course.
“When I took that geology course, the lights came on for me and I knew I had found my niche. I’m very interested in how humans relate to the world and how the geology of the world affects humans. We have a relationship with the earth -- that needs to be understood.”
Melissa Dinsdale, who plans to move on to a bachelor of science in geology at Simon Fraser University, thinks the minor in earth science will provide students with a unique and fun university experience.
“In earth science, a lot of time is spent studying outside the classroom, close to the interesting geology we have around here,” said Dinsdale. “You get hands-on experience with the topic, which is a break from the classroom setting and a great way to learn.”
There is a strong hands-on lab component to the minor in earth science, with most of the courses including lab work, field trips and exercises. Recent field trip destinations have included Hawaii, the Rocky Mountains and the Grand Canyon.
The earth science minor is currently available at Malaspina for BA and BSc students.
For more information on the Minor in Earth Science, please contact Dr. Tim Stokes at stokest@viu.ca
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