BIO 3343 Earth and Life Coevolution in Canada

The field experience group departs from Oakland University, traveling by van to Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The following days include travel to Ontario, Canada, for exploration in Wawa, Elliott Lake, and Sudbury. The group returns to Oakland University visiting two to four sites in Michigan along the way (to study recent evidence of glaciation events and fossiliferous beds).

The course format is six on-campus meetings followed by a one-week field trip. The field experience is on the coevolution of life and earth over long geological time scales (astrobiology). Students will observe, discuss, and analyze the geological record of planetary-scale glacial-interglacial events in relation to evolutionary innovations in life, climate change, microbial ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles.

The list of things to bring includes hiking shoes, rain gear, bug repellent spray, wet-wipes, sunscreen, an umbrella, notebook and pencil, backpack, sunglasses, water bottle, a flashlight, and small plastic bags for rock samples. A complete list will be provided at the pre-departure meeting.

Course prerequisites/co-requisite: BIO 1300 or CHEM 1440 or PHY 1060 or ENV 3090.

The field trip associated with this course will be a combination of driving, sometimes for multiple hours, and walking. Therefore, it requires an ability to walk and stand for at least one hour, walk on uneven surfaces, and carry basic field gear (i.e. backpack with water, rain gear, notebook, rock hammer).

A valid passport is required that expires no earlier than six months after the program ends.