Syllabus for Glaciology, GEOL 4888, Spring 2022 Humphrey
The Cryosphere
is that part of the earth that is significantly covered by ice, or which is heavily
modified by the phase change of water to ice.
With our current appreciation of changing climates, it is recognized
that the Cryosphere is one of the major players in modulating and generating
climate shifts. As a result, Glaciology,
which is the study of the dynamics (movement) of ice, and Cryospheric research,
which largely studies the phase change of water in our environment, has moved from a purely academic interest, to a socially relevant
field of research that is needed to actually understand the future of our
complexly coupled environment.
Course Scope
This is mainly
a course in land ice in our global environment, focusing on glacial dynamics,
which is a study of glacier motion, growth and
decay. In addition
we will briefly touch on the broader Cryosphere, particularly as related to
permafrost and sea-ice.
We will also
look at aspects of glacial geology, which is a study of the way glaciers modify
the earth’s surface, and of the deposits and erosional forms they leave behind.
Although this
is not a course about climate change, we will look at the strong feedbacks
between climate and the cryosphere.
Depending
on student interest, there
are a wide range of additional topics which are noted below.
We will try to
cover the following topics (in approximately this order):
If we have time there are several other topics I want to discuss:
Other topics
that could be covered could include:
The actual
content of this course will depend heavily on the interests of the students.
Classroom Behavior Policy:
At all times, treat your presence in the classroom and your enrollment in
this course as you would a job. Act
professionally, arrive on time, pay attention, complete your work in a timely
and professional manner, and treat all deadlines seriously. You will be respectful towards you classmates
and instructor. Spirited debate and
disagreement are to be expected in any classroom and all views will be heard
fully, but at all times we will behave civilly and
with respect towards one another. Personal attacks, offensive language,
name-calling, and dismissive gestures are not warranted in a learning
atmosphere. As the instructors, we have
the right to dismiss you from the classroom, study sessions, electronic forums,
and other areas where disruptive behavior occurs.
Electronic devices such as mobile phones should be set to silent or turned off. Laptops are, allowed for note-taking purposes. No video or audio recording during class is allowed to protect the privacy of your fellow students.
Classroom Statement on Diversity:
Statement on Diversity: UW Regulation 2-117 contains the following statement: “The University of Wyoming values an educational environment that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. The diversity that students and faculty bring to class, including age, country of origin, culture, disability, economic class, ethnicity, gender identity, immigration status, linguistic, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, worldview, and other social and cultural diversity is valued, respected, and considered a resource for learning.” This course embraces this statement, both in the way we expect students and instructors to interact and in the material that is covered in the readings, labs, and lectures.
In this class, you have the right to determine your own identity. You have the right to be called by whatever name you wish and to have that name pronounced correctly. You have the right to be referred to by whatever pronouns you wish. You have the right to adjust any of these things at any point in your education. If you find that there are aspects of course instruction, subject matter, or class environment that result in barriers to your inclusion, please contact the instructor privately without fear of reprisal.
Disability Support:
The University of Wyoming is committed to
providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. If you have a disability, including but not
limited to physical, learning, sensory or psychological disabilities, and
would like to request accommodations in this course due to your disability,
please register with and
provide documentation of your disability as soon as possible to Disability
Support Services (DSS), Room 128 Knight Hall. You may also contact DSS at (307)
766-3073 or udss@uwyo.edu. It is in the
student’s best interest to request accommodations within the first week of
classes, understanding that accommodations are not retroactive. Visit the DSS website for more information at: www.uwyo.edu/udss”
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this
class. Cases of academic dishonesty will be treated
in accordance with UW Regulation 2-114. The
penalties for academic dishonesty can include, at my discretion, an “F” on an
exam, an “F” on the class component exercise, and/or an “F” in the entire
course. Academic dishonesty means anything
that represents someone else’s ideas as your own without attribution. It is intellectual theft – stealing - and
includes (but is not limited to) unapproved assistance on examinations,
plagiarism (use of any amount of another person’s writings, blog posts,
publications, and other materials without attributing that material to that
person with citations), or fabrication of referenced information. Facilitation of another person’s academic
dishonesty is also considered academic dishonesty and will be treated
identically.
In
other words, no cheating! It will be hard
to carry out in this class, but is an important aspect
of scientific ethics. In this class you will have to quote or otherwise use
considerable material from various other sources. To avoid ‘academic dishonesty’ in this
context, you will have to be careful to clearly distinguish between ideas that
you have obtained from other sources, and ideas that you have generated
yourself. In the
course of class discussions, this will be a challenge that will be part
of your responsibility in passing the course. Please note we expect you to use lots of
outside sources and opinions, and that is fine as long as you do not say or
even imply they are your own and not somebody else’s
ideas.
Duty
to Report:
UW faculty are committed to supporting students and upholding the University’s non-discrimination policy. Under Title IX, discrimination based upon sex and gender is prohibited. If you experience an incident of sex- or gender-based discrimination, we encourage you to report it. While you may talk to a faculty member, understand that as a "Responsible Employee" of the University, the faculty member MUST report information you share about the incident to the university’s Title IX Coordinator (you may choose whether you or anyone involved is identified by name). If you would like to speak with someone who may be able to afford you privacy or confidentiality, there are people who can meet with you. Faculty can help direct you or you may find info about UW policy and resources at http://www.uwyo.edu/reportit
You do not have to go through the experience alone. Assistance and resources are available, and you are not required to make a formal complaint or participate in an investigation to access them.
Student Resources:
CAMPUS RESOURCES
DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES: udss@uwyo.edu, 766-3073, 128 Knight
Hall, www.uwyo.edu/udss
COUNSELING CENTER: uccstaff@uwyo.edu, 766-2187,
766-8989 (After hours), 341 Knight Hall, www.uwyo.edu/ucc
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS: 766-4286, 312 Old Main, www.uwyo.edu/acadaffairs
DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE: dos@uwyo.edu, 766-3296, 128 Knight Hall, www.uwyo.edu/dos
UW POLICE DEPARTMENT: uwpd@uwyo.edu, 766-5179, 1426 E Flint
St, www.uwyo.edu/uwpd
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT WEBSITE: www.uwyo.edu/dos/conduct
Out of class support opportunities:
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