Anthropocene Sediments and Environments

Period: first semester

Course Units Contents:

Anthropocene historical genesis and possible definitions: an interdisciplinary approach
Establishing beginning of Anthropocene
-chemostratigraphic signals
- lithostratigraphic signals
-Technofossils and Technostratigraphy
- Societal implication
Measuring microplastics in sediments:
- sampling methodologies
- processing tools for extraction of microplastics particles
- physical properties and classification
- analytical techniques for quantification and identification
The source to sink perspective and the depositional environments in the Anthropocene
time
- microplastic production (the source system) and their hydrodynamic behavior
- alluvial and coastal environments (the transfer system
- deep marine environments (the sink)

Planned learning activities and teaching methods: The course will be based on class teaching, integrated by a field excursion which will focus on collection and discussion of data from a selected study case. It will be followed by a number of practical activities in laboratory. Qualified lecturers, selected among the major experts on subjects of the course, will be invited to hold webinars