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Earth & Environmental Science

What's it all about?

“The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made from the interiors of collapsing stars…. We are star stuff” – Carl Sagan

This Island Earth is an interdisciplinary subject that bridges the Sciences and the Humanities. Across four modules, this subject covers everything from the Big Bang, to the formation of stars and solar systems, to the dynamic nature of the Earth and its systems, the role of the Earth in supporting human civilisations and, finally, the impact that human activities have on the habitability of the planet itself.

What type of things will I do?

The subject will be delivered using an online platform, and will include fieldwork, laboratory activities, literature research, and tutorials delivered in class.

What will I learn?

TOPIC 1

EARTH IN SPACE

  • Evidence of the formation of the Universe

  • How stars and their satellites form

  • Why we have seasons, and how they affect the diversity of life on Earth

TOPIC 2

DYNAMIC EARTH

  • The structure of the Earth

  • Evidence supporting our understanding of the structure and age of the Earth

  • Various cycles which occur within, and upon the surface of, the Earth

TOPIC 3

EARTH’S SYSTEMS

  • The various interconnected systems of Earth, and how they interact

  • Processes essential for the existence, and maintenance, of life on Earth

  • How energy moves through, and between systems, including aspects of thermodynamics and how they relate to life

TOPIC 4

HUMAN EARTH

  • How human and Earth interactions have given rise to civilisations

  • How human exploitation of Earth’s services and functions has changed over time

  • The impact of modern rates of resource consumption on the capacity for Earth to sustain life as we have come to know it

What can this lead to?

University and TAFE courses in Physics, Earth Science, Astronomy, Geography, Climate Science and Paleo science.

POSSIBLE PATHWAY 

YEAR                               COURSES OFFERED 

YEAR 10                              Earth and Environmental Science 

YEAR 11                              Environmental Science (VCE) 

                                             Environmental Systems and Societies (IBDP) 

                                             Physics (VCE/IBDP) 

YEAR 12                              Environmental Science (VCE) 

                                             Environmental Systems and Societies (IBDP) 

                                             Physics (VCE/IBDP) 


Why choose this subject?

Choose this subject if you are interested in learning about Science through an applied context.

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