Sustainable Development Goals
Abstract/Objectives
The phrase 'The past is a key to the future' expresses the importance of civilization development and sustainable management. It also applies to the exploitation and conservation of natural environmental resources and energy. Natural environment of Taiwan plays a crucial role in our survival and development. It is also a well-known wonder of the world, characterized by continuous mountain ranges, frequent earthquakes, uplift at comparable rate to the Himalaya, diverse rock formations, and its dynamic and rich history. These interesting features have left distinct traces in the rock records which await to be discovered. Apart from indoor lectures and discussions on geological environment and history, this course mainly focuses on field trips, since observation of rock outcrops is a key to better understand Taiwan's geological environment. Therefore, student will be given a great opportunity to learn and experience the interplay between geological background and human activity, including economic development, conservation tourism, mitigation of natural disasters and sustainable management.
Results/Contributions

The content of indoor lectures consist of three main topics: 1. General geohistory of Taiwan. 2. Ancient continental margin rifting, environmental changes before the emergence of Taiwan island along with earth's material resources. 3. Current mountain-building processes/Penglai Orogeny, earthquakes, volcanism and tsunami. Indoor activities also include practice of instruments which are used in field observations and measurements, reading and discussing extended range of topics, such as origin of petroleum, possible cause of ancient elephants and rhinos' extinction, submarine volcano formations located in NE Taiwan's offshore area, estimating probability of large earthquakes by studying ancient earthquake precursors, and major events of dip slope failures in Taiwan.

The program offers four one-day themed field trips. The areas of Miaoli and Taichung are first to visit in order to learn about tectonic uplift and 1999 Chichi earthquake. This field excursion's destinations include conglomerate located on badlands of Miaoli Huoyenshan, Cholan gorge as well as ruptured section of Shigang Dam in Taichung. The theme of the second trip focuses on earth's material resources in Miaoli. We have designated two exploration sites for this excursion. The first one includes Chuhangkeng oil and gas field and Taiwan Oil Field Exhibition Hall, related to the discovery and exploration history of those fields. The second target is the highway near Mingde Reservoir where students are to excavate marine fossils, quartz sand and coal measures. The third trip's main goal is to introduce geotourism resources in the north coast, such as Yehliu Geopark and its natural rock sculptures along with Jinshan's hot springs and geothermal resources. The last trip's theme focuses on volcanic rocks, landscape and geohazards in the north coast, for example Jinshan-Shimen sea cave, Linshanbi algae reef, Shanchiao active fault, which is related to 1867 Jinshan Earthquake and ensuing 1867 Keelung Tsunami.

Students' performances regarding indoor and outdoor activities are evaluated by weekly homework assignments, midterm and final exams. The term papers are required to be based on field observations and done by students under teacher's supervision in order practice the observation and research skills in geology acquired during this course with the ultimate goal of promoting students' relevant interests.

Keywords
geologyoutdoor excursionfield investigationrock section observation Taiwan's natural history
References
Contact Information
Neng-Ti Yu
ntyu@mx.nthu.edu.tw