ALL1327-HC First 6 Weeks Thursday 9:00-10:20 Start Date 30-Jan
Grossman 115 Limit 20
ALL1327-HZ First 6 Weeks Thursday 9:00-10:20 Start Date 30-Jan
Zoom Limit 15
This course will cover the history of our planet from its formation 4.6 billion years ago to the present. The focus will be on the interaction between geology and the biosphere throughout Earth’s history and the inevitability of an unprecedented rate of climate change that confronts us now. Participants are encouraged to read A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters by Andrew H. Knoll (2021) on which this course is based. Students can view an interview of the author on YouTube. The first class will be based on material covered by the Prologue and first chapter of Knoll’s A Brief History of Earth.
Coordinator: Steve Munroe 
Steve is Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at Marquette University where he taught molecular biology and biochemistry for 35 years prior to retirement. He has lived full time on Cape Cod since 2019.
Coordinator: Paul Coteus 
Paul is a retired physicist and IBM Fellow. Starting with Rachael Carson in the ’60s, through the ozone crisis of the ’80s, and now the 21st century focus on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, Paul has kept an active interest in how our planet is responding to human impact. Paul has also taught multiple courses at ALL including courses on climate change.
Both instructors have given several ALL courses previously on a variety of topics including the human genome project, evolution and climate change.
Video/Podcast-Paul Coteus and Steve Munroe “History of Earth”