Weekly Schedule
SUBJECT TO CHANGE! (please get in touch with me if you plan to do work in advance, especially reading assignments for roundtables)
Course Structure:
Tuesday Work Days / Thursday Roundtables
Tuesdays (75 min): Hands-on work in your track (Research = lab work; Analysis = data work)
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Thursdays (75 min): Roundtable discussions (shared), brief mini-lectures as needed, cross-track connections
SPIRAL 1: FOUNDATIONS & RECENT CLIMATE (Weeks 1-5)
Week 1: The Paleoclimate Detective
Tuesday: Course Introduction & Track Selection
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Welcome and course overview
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The Problem of Deep Time: How do we know what we know?
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Introduce both tracks with detailed descriptions
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Activity: Explore sample testate amoeba data together—what questions does it raise?
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Assignment: Choose your track by end of week; begin readings
Thursday: Reading Scientific Papers & Uniformitarianism
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Mini-lecture (20 min): Uniformitarianism vs. catastrophism—when does the present unlock the past?
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Roundtable Introduction (25 min): How to read a scientific paper
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Deconstruct a press release vs. original paper exercise
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Introduce rotating discussion roles
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Discussion (30 min): What do you think makes a good paleoclimate proxy?
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Assignment for BOTH tracks:
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Read Mann, M.E., Bradley, R.S., and Hughes, M.K., Global-Scale Temperature Patterns and Climate Forcing Over the Past Six Centuries, Nature, 392, 779-787, 1998 (AKA The “Hockey Stick” Paper).
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Read Anthropocene Working Group Executive Summary (2024)
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Week 2: Instrumental Records & The Anthropocene
Tuesday: Track Work Sessions
Research Track:
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Familiarize yourself with culturing techniques
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Deep literature review of amoebae as paleo proxies, other uses
Analysis Track:
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Receive unpublished dataset or choose data set to work with from pre-determined list (can petition for a different data set if you have one you are more interested in)
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Data exploration: load data, create initial visualizations?
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Identify variables and data structure
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Document initial patterns in research journal
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Thursday: Roundtable—The Anthropocene Debate (Instrumental data vs proxy data)
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Brief context (10 min): Instrumental records as climate proxies
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Discussion (50 min): Mann et al. (1998) + Anthropocene paper
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Rotating roles: Presenters rotate
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Focus: What defines the Anthropocene? How do we use instrumental data?
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Connection for research track: How do testate amoebae relate to the concept of the Anthropocene?
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Wrap-up (15 min): Modern calibration—why culture experiments matter
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Assignment for BOTH tracks:
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Read Bradley Chapter 10 (Tree Rings) (skim for concepts)
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Read Cook et al. (1999) OR Cook et al. (2002) (choose one)
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Week 3: Tree Rings & High-Resolution Records
Tuesday: Track Work Sessions
Research Track:
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Define research question
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Design experiment
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Generate list of needed supplies and proposed budget for the experiment
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Create a pitch (grant application) for your experiment
Analysis Track:
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Continue data exploration
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Begin basic statistical analyses (descriptive stats, correlations)
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Create 3-5 initial visualizations
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Formulate 2-3 research questions to investigate
Thursday: Roundtable—Dendrochronology
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Mini-lecture (15 min): Dendrochronology principles—cross-dating, standardization, climate calibration
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Discussion (45 min): Cook et al. paper + tree ring methods
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Focus: Annual vs. decadal resolution in proxies
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How does resolution affect interpretation?
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Connection: How do amoeba population dynamics compare to tree rings?
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Case Study (15 min): The divergence problem in dendrochronology
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Assignment for BOTH tracks:
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Read Dansgaard et al. (1969) OR Jouzel et al. (2007) (choose one)
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Read Broecker et al. (1989)
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Week 4: Ice Cores & Rapid Climate Change
Tuesday: Track Work Sessions
Research Track:
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Set up experiments
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Record initial procedures and observations
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Continue literature review
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Write methods section and background/introduction
Analysis Track:
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Conduct statistical tests (ANOVA, t-tests, regression)
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Evaluate significance of patterns
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Begin literature search (find 3-5 relevant papers)
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Create comparison figures
Thursday: Roundtable—Ice Core Records
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Mini-lecture (15 min): Ice core methodology and isotope systematics
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Discussion (40 min): Ice core papers
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Focus: Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles and rapid change
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Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence
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How rapidly can climate change?
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Case Study (20 min): Younger Dryas—Broecker et al. vs. Firestone et al.
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Evaluating controversial hypotheses
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Assignment for BOTH tracks:
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Read Shackleton (1967) AND Zachos et al. (2001)
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Week 5: Marine Records
Tuesday: Track Work Sessions
Research Track:
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First SEM imaging session (if possible)
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Continue measurements and observations
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Begin analyzing growth rate data
Analysis Track:
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Continue statistical analyses
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Begin creating publication-quality figures
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Draft methods section describing analytical approach
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Review proxy methods for exam
Thursday: Roundtable & Catch-Up Time
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Brief Discussion (30 min): Marine isotope systematics
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Shackleton and Zachos papers
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δ18O and δ13C as climate indicators
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Connection: Marine vs. terrestrial proxies
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(45 min):
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Catch-Up Time
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No new assignment—catch up on track work