Scribner Seminar Program
Course Description

Dangerous Earth: Climatologic and Geological Disasters

Instructor(s): Amy Frappier, Geosciences

Who will be the victims of the next natural disaster? When, where, and why will it occur? Can we safeguard our communities? Students will examine the diverse ways in which climatic and geologic phenomena influence human lives and activities, the root causes of disaster phenomena, and the principles that render seemingly random natural disasters comprehensible and predictable. Students will produce a podcast and radio program on the campus station, WSPN 91. 1FM, applying effective, creative, and engaging for science communication, and investigate a variety of hazards, such as floods, droughts, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis. We will explore the extent to which these events are regulated by cyclic and/or periodic earth processes, linkages between hazards, and how we can predict future disaster risk. This will enable students to communicate with the public about risk predictions and preparedness, and discuss different scenarios to mitigate against potential future natural disasters. We will also examine the influence of diverse cultural perspectives about the causes and effects of natural disasters on a community's ability to respond effectively to, and recover from, a disaster event.