Outline

Overview

Planet Earth is a complex system in which exchanges of matter and energy across its various components has maintained the permanent state of change needed for the emergence of the Earth's biosphere and its sustainability over billions of years. As the present existential crises show, from climate change to the collapse of biodiversity, the Earth's biosphere, its atmosphere and ocean, its landscapes, the Earth's lithosphere and the Earth's deep interior are tightly coupled. In such a system, no component can be understood in isolation from the others. In GEOS3101, you will learn how we probe the deep Earth interior, what powers mantle dynamics, plate tectonics, and surface dynamics, and how they impact on climate change. You will gain an appreciation and understanding of the feedback loops between the Earth's surface, tectonic processes, mantle dynamics and climate. During the practical classes, you will learn and apply a range of investigative methodologies to unravel the geodynamic of the Earth from the deep mantle to the Earth's surface. You will learn to decode the temperature, pressure and strain history of metamorphic rocks, and to decode the morphology, and assess the potential biodiversity of ancient and future landscapes by characterizing their physical properties. You will develop and apply knowledge relevant to heat and mass transfer, rocks’ rheology, fluvial incision and hillslope diffusion to design and run computer simulations to explore complex geodynamic, tectonic and surface processes.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Geosciences Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	(GEOS2114 or GEOS2914) and (GEOS2124 or GEOS2924)
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	GEOS3801 or GEOS3003 or GEOS3903 or GEOS3004 or GEOS3904 or GEOS3006 or GEOS3906 or GEOS3017 or GEOS3917
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Patrice Rey, patrice.rey@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Dietmar Muller, dietmar.muller@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Patrice Rey, patrice.rey@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Formative 1 Report	6%	Week 03 Due date: 08 Mar 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 15 Mar 2024	4 - 6 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	South Coast Excursion Field Report Individual field report. 4 day field trip.	22%	Week 05 Due date: 05 Apr 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 12 Apr 2024	6 -8 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Formative 2 Report	6%	Week 06 Due date: 29 Mar 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 05 Apr 2024	4 - 6 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Summative 1 Skills-based evaluation	14%	Week 07 Due date: 11 Apr 2024 at 17:00	1.5 hours - outside normal contact hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Formative 3 Report	6%	Week 08 Due date: 19 Apr 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 26 Apr 2024	4 - 6 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Summative 2 Skills-based evaluation	14%	Week 10 Due date: 02 May 2024 at 17:00	1.5 hours - outside normal contact hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Formative 4 Report	6%	Week 10 Due date: 03 May 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 10 May 2024	4 - 6 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Six quizzes 3-question quizzes + short-answers based on content from geologybites.com	6%	Week 12 Due date: 17 May 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 24 May 2024	~ 1 hour each.
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Summative 3 Skills-based evaluation	14%	Week 13 Due date: 23 May 2024 at 17:00	1.5 hours - outside normal contact hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Formative 5 Report	6%	Week 13 Due date: 24 May 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 31 May 2024	4 - 6 hours
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Details are in canvas.
For formative only, resubmission is allowed for a maximum of a Pass grade.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

10% per day up to 5 days.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to GEOS3101	Workshop (5 hr)
Week 02	Imaging the mantle part I	Workshop (5 hr)
Week 03	Imaging the mantle part II	Workshop (5 hr)
Week 04	Mantle convection	Workshop (5 hr)
Week 05	Mantle partial melting	Workshop (5 hr)
Week 05	South Coast excursion	Field trip (32 hr)
Week 06	Earth lithosphere and mantle convection	Workshop (5 hr)
Week 07	Notions of rheology	Workshop (5 hr)
Week 08	Isostasy and vertical motion	Workshop (5 hr)
Week 09	Tectonic and gravitational forces	Workshop (5 hr)
Week 10	From mantle convection to topography	Workshop (5 hr)
Week 11	River incision and hillslope processes	Workshop (5 hr)
Week 12	From landscape to biodiversity	Workshop (5 hr)
Week 13	Revision	Workshop (5 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

The expectation is that students should make every effort to attend and participate to classes.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Before attending the classes, please read the material made available to you via canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Understand how seismic tomography data reveal deep Earth structure from the core, to the lithosphere, to the subsurface.
LO2. Understand heat transfer processes across the deep mantle and the lithosphere, and assess their impact of the thermal and mechanical evolution of the Earth’s lithosphere.
LO3. Evaluate the forces involved in the deformation of the Earth’s lithosphere, use the concept of isostasy to evaluate the gravitational force acting within the lithosphere.
LO4. Understand the interplay between tectonic and surface processes and quantitatively assess its impacts on landscape in regions of active deformation and during periods of climate changes.
LO5. Apply the acquired knowledge to design and perform numerical experiments to explore coupled geodynamic, tectonic and surface processes.
LO6. Work collaboratively in a multicultural team environment.
LO7. Write concise technical reports; present engaging scientific oral presentations; design and deliver effective multimedia podcasts.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Reduced length of summative from 3x2-hour to 3x1.5 hour. Reduced length of quizzes from 6 to 3 questions each.

Additional information

Additional costs

The cost of the South Coast Excursion is $250 inc GST.

Work, health and safety

Physical requirements for South Coast field trip: They are similar to those expected for daily walks in a National Park in a coastal region. This includes walking 4 to 6 hours per day on sandy beaches and uneven terrains, climbing steep hills and walking down steep slopes.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

GEOS3101: Deep Mantle to Earth Surface Dynamics

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect