Online teaching materials
GEOL 100 - Earth in Action - taught periodically
Students taking this introductory Earth sciences course will learn about Earth materials, Earth system processes both above and below the surface, and major events in Earth history. Along the way, emphasis is placed on understanding the process of science and how Earth science topics are relevant to the lives students.
GEOL 605 - Introduction to Geochemistry - taught during spring semesters
This course applies your knowledge from undergraduate chemistry courses to geological environments. If you meet the course expectations, you will gain an understanding of controls on the distribution of elements and chemical reactions of significance in geological environments. Furthermore, you will be able to apply geochemistry concepts to evaluate compositions of Earth materials and analyze geochemical processes.
GEOL 650 - Geomicrobiology - taught during spring semesters
Microorganisms share a close relationship with the geological environments they inhabit. In driving forward many of the redox reactions that occur in nature, they strongly impact both the chemical and physical properties of those environments. In turn, however, geological environments also influence microbial activity. The overall goal of this course is to help students understand both sides of this relationship. The structure of the course follows these interactions as laid out in our textbook, Microbiology for Earth Scientists. The first portion of the course reviews some basic information about microorganisms; what they are, how they function, what are some major groups in the environment. The second portion of the course focuses on environmental controls on microbial activity, with emphasis on quantitative analysis of geochemical data. The last portion of the course examines some of the ways microbes affect the environment, including microbe-mineral interaction and impacts on water quality, greenhouse gas levels, and energy resources.
GEOL 711 - Water Resources Geochemistry - taught during fall semesters
This course will help you learn how to use tools from geochemistry to understand hydrologic processes. We begin the course with a short review of basic concepts relevant to groundwater and surface water hydrology. We discuss controls on the composition of natural waters and types of tracers that have been developed. We then apply tracers to assess mixing, recharge rates, and more. Skills gained from this course can help you contribute solutions to water resource challenges.
GEOL 760 - Geochemical and Biogeochemical Reaction Modeling - taught during fall semesters
Students taking this course will learn how to quantitatively analyze biogeochemical reaction systems using popular geochemical modeling software. In doing so, students will develop employable skills, enrich their understanding of bio-geochemical reaction systems, and find that biogeochemical modeling actually quite fun! The course will be based on a series of active-learning computer exercises. Student will use the software to determine species distributions in natural waters, model the kinetics of microbial reactions, simulate rates of mineral dissolution/precipitation, and more.
- Open access geomicrobiology textbook: Microbiology for Earth Scientists published via New Prairie Press and available for free online and in print form via Amazon.
- Videos: some lectures and tutorials for the courses listed below are available on Matthew Kirk's YouTube channel.
- Images: some of the pictures and graphics used for teaching material are available on Matthew Kirk's Wikimedia commons contributions page.
GEOL 100 - Earth in Action - taught periodically
Students taking this introductory Earth sciences course will learn about Earth materials, Earth system processes both above and below the surface, and major events in Earth history. Along the way, emphasis is placed on understanding the process of science and how Earth science topics are relevant to the lives students.
GEOL 605 - Introduction to Geochemistry - taught during spring semesters
This course applies your knowledge from undergraduate chemistry courses to geological environments. If you meet the course expectations, you will gain an understanding of controls on the distribution of elements and chemical reactions of significance in geological environments. Furthermore, you will be able to apply geochemistry concepts to evaluate compositions of Earth materials and analyze geochemical processes.
GEOL 650 - Geomicrobiology - taught during spring semesters
Microorganisms share a close relationship with the geological environments they inhabit. In driving forward many of the redox reactions that occur in nature, they strongly impact both the chemical and physical properties of those environments. In turn, however, geological environments also influence microbial activity. The overall goal of this course is to help students understand both sides of this relationship. The structure of the course follows these interactions as laid out in our textbook, Microbiology for Earth Scientists. The first portion of the course reviews some basic information about microorganisms; what they are, how they function, what are some major groups in the environment. The second portion of the course focuses on environmental controls on microbial activity, with emphasis on quantitative analysis of geochemical data. The last portion of the course examines some of the ways microbes affect the environment, including microbe-mineral interaction and impacts on water quality, greenhouse gas levels, and energy resources.
GEOL 711 - Water Resources Geochemistry - taught during fall semesters
This course will help you learn how to use tools from geochemistry to understand hydrologic processes. We begin the course with a short review of basic concepts relevant to groundwater and surface water hydrology. We discuss controls on the composition of natural waters and types of tracers that have been developed. We then apply tracers to assess mixing, recharge rates, and more. Skills gained from this course can help you contribute solutions to water resource challenges.
GEOL 760 - Geochemical and Biogeochemical Reaction Modeling - taught during fall semesters
Students taking this course will learn how to quantitatively analyze biogeochemical reaction systems using popular geochemical modeling software. In doing so, students will develop employable skills, enrich their understanding of bio-geochemical reaction systems, and find that biogeochemical modeling actually quite fun! The course will be based on a series of active-learning computer exercises. Student will use the software to determine species distributions in natural waters, model the kinetics of microbial reactions, simulate rates of mineral dissolution/precipitation, and more.