Syllabus for The End of the World

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student shall be able to:

• describe different ideas about the end of the world and supporting and opposing arguments, critically assess and relate to the plausibility of such statements
• understand basic properties for catastrophic events such as earthquakes, tsunamies, vulcanic eruptions, magnetic pole reversals or extreme weather
• relate to historical mass extinctions and other cataclysmic events in past history
• describe societal emergency plans and other measures for handling catastrophic events

Content

Different visions about the end of the world, scientific theories about the apocalypse in history and culture. Examples of catastrophic scenarios in mainstream debate and their supporting arguments.

Earthquakes, vulcanos, tsunamies and associated events such as landslides and other natural disasters. magnetic pole reversals, dangerous space weather events, solar storms, astroid and comet strikes. Catastrophic climate change, ice ages and other major changes. Historical mass extinction events and their causes.

Sociatal cataclysms such as nuclear war, domsday weapons, resource depletion, pandemics, etc. Preparation and risk aversion strategies for the society. Students are trained in critical assessment and scientific approaches to understanding the world.

Instruction

Lectures.

Assessment

Examination by written hand-in exercises.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.