Earth and Life Coevolution in Canada

Students depart with the group from Oakland University and travel by van to Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Ontario, Canada, for a field-based experience on the coevolution of life and earth where one of the world’s best rock records for these events is readily accessible.

Travel in Ontario, Canada, begins with exploration in Wawa, an area rich in gold and iron ore with sites of ancient stromatolites, banded iron formations, and Snowball Earth. The group travels to Elliot Lake, a hub for forest harvesting, mine reclamation expertise, and advanced manufacturing with ancient glaciations with drop stones and fossilized ripple marks; and to Sudbury, once a major lumber center and a world leader in nickel mining, to visit uranium and cobalt mines, examine the history of rare earth elements and oxygen concentrations, ancient stromatolites, and shock cone.  

The study trip concludes in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with visits to examine sites showing recent evidence of glaciation events and fossiliferous beds.

Requirements: 

GPA: NONE

Course: BIO 3343: Earth and Life Coevolution (2 credits)

Course prerequisites/co-requisite: BIO 1300 or CHEM 1440 or PHY 1060 or ENV 3090. The course counts as a lab credit for Biology majors.

Course format includes six on-campus meetings followed by a seven-day field trip. The field experience is on the coevolution of life and earth over long geological time scales (astrobiology). Students will observe, discuss, and analyze the geological record of planetary- scale glacial-interglacial events in relation to evolutionary innovations in life, climate change, microbial ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles.

The field trip associated with the course will be a combination of driving, sometimes for multiple hours, and walking. Therefore, it requires an ability to walk and stand for at least one hour, walk on uneven surfaces, and carry basic field gear (i.e. backpack with water, rain gear, notebook, rock hammer).

Students will reside in dormitory rooms at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and at Laurentian University when in Sudbury.

All meals are included in the program fee. Students may choose to purchase snacks and extra meals independently. 

Tuition: 2 Credits

You will be charged for these credits on your eBill at your normal rate of tuition.

Program Fee: $1,500

To be paid to OU on our MarketPlace payment system and includes: round trip transportation (van), housing and most meals, local transportation and all excursions while in Canada, and health insurance.

Additional Costs: $325

You will need additional funds for these expenses not covered by program fee. Amounts are estimated.
Meals: $50
Incidental personal expenses: $100
Passport (if you don't have one): $175

Scholarships and Financial Aid: You are able to use financial aid to cover your full cost of attendance to this program (tuition, program fee and additional costs). Scholarships are also available through your study abroad application.