Courses

Current Semester

Mineralogy (SEL)
Subject associations
GEO 378 / MSE 348

Minerals are the fundamental building blocks of the Earth. Their physical, chemical, and structural properties determine the nature of the Earth and they are the primary recorders of the past history of the Earth and other planets. This course will provide a survey of the properties of the major rock-forming minerals. Topics include crystallography, crystal chemistry, mineral thermodynamics and mineral occurrence. Emphasis will be on the role of minerals in understanding geological processes. Laboratories will focus on developing an understanding of crystallography, structure-property relationships, and modern analytical techniques.

Instructors
Thomas S. Duffy
Responsible Conduct of Research in Geosciences (Half-Term)
Subject associations
GEO 503 / AOS 503

Course educates Geosciences and AOS students in the responsible conduct of research using case studies appropriate to these disciplines. This discussion-based course focuses on issues related to the use of scientific data, publication practices and responsible authorship, peer review, research misconduct, conflicts of interest, the role of mentors & mentees, issues encountered in collaborative research and the role of scientists in society. Successful completion is based on attendance, reading, and active participation in class discussions. Course satisfies University requirement for RCR training.

Instructors
Leo Donner
Thomas S. Duffy
John A. Higgins
Larry W. Horowitz
Allan M. Rubin
Daniel M. Sigman
Frederik J. Simons
Rong Zhang

Fall 2023

Physics and Chemistry of Earth's Interior
Subject associations
GEO 419 / PHY 419

This class will introduce students to the modern study of the structure, composition, and evolution of the Earth's interior. We will integrate findings from geophysical observations, laboratory experiments, and computational models to develop a holistic picture of the large-scale behavior of our planet. The course will be divided into four major sections: 1) origin and composition of the Earth; 2) physical and chemical properties of Earth materials; 3) global Earth structure; 4) Earth dynamics. The course will introduce current topics and the latest findings from the scientific literature.

Instructors
Thomas S. Duffy

Previous Semesters Course Offerings

Undergraduate Courses

Mineralogy (SEL)
Subject associations
GEO 378 / MSE 348
Instructors
Thomas S. Duffy
Fall 2020
Physics and Chemistry of Earth's Interior
Subject associations
GEO 419 / PHY 419
Instructors
Thomas S. Duffy
Spring 2018

Graduate Courses

Fundamentals of the Geosciences
Subject associations
GEO 505
Instructors
Thomas S. Duffy
John A. Higgins
Satish C. Myneni
Allan M. Rubin
Daniel M. Sigman
Frederik J. Simons
Jeroen Tromp
Spring 2022
Fundamentals of the Geosciences II
Subject associations
GEO 506
Instructors
Thomas S. Duffy
Laure Resplandy
Blair Schoene
Jeroen Tromp
Gabriel A. Vecchi
Bess Ward
Fall 2020
Physics and Chemistry of Minerals
Subject associations
GEO 501 / MSE 541
Instructors
Thomas S. Duffy
Fall 2021
Responsible Conduct of Research in Geosciences (Half-Term)
Subject associations
GEO 503 / AOS 503
Instructors
Leo Donner
Thomas S. Duffy
John A. Higgins
Larry W. Horowitz
Sonya A. Legg
Allan M. Rubin
Daniel M. Sigman
Frederik J. Simons
Jeroen Tromp
Rong Zhang
Spring 2022
Topics in Mineralogy and Mineral Physics: Multidisciplinary Studies of the Deep Earth
Subject associations
GEO 507 / MSE 547
Instructors
Thomas S. Duffy
Jessica C. Irving
Spring 2019

Freshman Seminars

All That Glitters: The Science of Diamond and Gemstones (SEN)
Subject associations
FRS 158
Instructors
Thomas S. Duffy
All That Glitters: The Science of Diamond and Gemstones (SEL)
Subject associations
FRS 158
Instructors
Thomas S. Duffy