This lecture gives an overview of methods and applications of geochronology across a wide range of Earth Science disciplines. Several in their field specialized lecturers cover the principles and methods and will give insight into recent applications and research projects.

Lectures, exercises and excursions serve as an introduction to atmospheric sciences, soil science and hydrology. Students gain a broad vision of the cutting edge topics that are being researched and studied at D-USYS and D-BAUG at ETH, Eawag, and WSL. This will be the base for a future dialog between the field of landscape architecture and the field of natural sciences and engineering.

Geological Mapping in the Alps in pairs with an assigned supervisor. Common activities are an introductory excursion, and a final presentation of the report and map, either in the field or in class. The scheduled two weeks are set at the beginning and end of the summer, to allow interested students to add some mapping days.

Identification and characterization of important sedimentary, magmatic and metamorphic rocks and discussion of their genesis in a well-constrained geological time frame.

This course presents the basic theory, methods and applications of low temperature thermochronometry, which is a fundamental tool used to study shallow crustal and earth-surface processes like burial and exhumation in orogenic belts and sedimentary basins.

Use of the polarizing microscope and understanding of diagnostic optical properties as required to identify minerals and hence give a rock its proper name. Application of the main optical properties to recognize and name the common rock-forming minerals and structures in magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.

Theoretical background and application of some basic methods for sediment analysis.

Microscopy of carbonate (1st half of semester) and sliciclastic rocks (2nd half) rocks as well as siliceous, phosphatic and evaporitic sediements.