Teaching & Service

3rd Year Undergraduates

We pull together a broad suite of observations and theory to understand how and why continental lithosphere evolves. We start by building an observational and theoretical framework to understand the structure of continental lithosphere and the forces that deform it. We then build on this framework to understand the consequences of plate tectonics for geological processes including generation of topography, sedimentary basins, and seismicity and we finish by examining how sub-plate processes impact the evolution of continental lithosphere.

Figure: Classic photo showing fence offset by the 1906 San Andreas earthquake, on the ranch of E. R. Strain(!), Marin County, California. Offset ~ 3 m (Turcotte & Schubert, 2002, Geodynamics).

4th Year Undergraduates

Alex Whittaker and I run an advanced field course for 4th year undergraduates. We make a traverse from close to the Adriatic coast to Isola d' Elba. Along the way we examine and synthesis evidence for Italy's tectonic, magmatic, stratigraphic and geodynamic evolution.  

Figure: Stress Map of Italy and Surroundings. Symbols indicate methods used to estimate stress including focal mechanisms, borehole breakouts, drilling induced fracturing, overcoring, hydrofracturing and geological indicators, see Heidbach et al. (2018) for more details. Colours indicate stress regime: red = normal faulting; green = strike-slip faulting; blue = thrust faulting. Gray curves are plate boundaries from Bird (2003).

2nd Year Undergraduates

We cover the interpretation of geological maps and sub-surface structure, with the aid of cross-sections, building students' confidence and ability with 3D concepts. They develop understanding of how structural information is presented and how to extract quantitative information from maps and cross-sections.

Figure: Beautiful, classic, geological map of the igenous complexes of Mull, Scotland.