Credit Hours: 4

Course Prerequisite: see instructor

Instructor: 
Dr. Fabien Kenig, SES 2448, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Tel. (312) 996 30 20. 

Office hours: 
Open door policy. However, it is recommended to call or send e-mail (fkenig@uic.edu) to set up an appointment. 

Lectures: to be announced 

CONTENTS

• Course content
• Readings
• Grading
• Email and WWW

Course content

This course mostly deals with current issues in organic geochemistry and biogeochemistry. The stable isotopic composition of the major elements of organic compounds in the biosphere and geosphere,  C, H, O, N and S will be discussed. This class is partly driven towards application of continuous flow stable isotope mass spectrometry for organic geochemistry and biogeochemistry.  Basics of stable isotope geochemistry are reviewed during the first weeks of the semester. Current biogeochemical research using  non continuous flow mass spectrometry are also discussed.   

TOP

Readings

There is no single text which covers all these subjects satisfactorily. Reading material will be found in books and journals available at the Science Library (SES).  We will read articles from the published literature, available at the Main Library and at the Science Library.  Suggestion of papers for presentation is welcome. You will find on the top right corner of this page a link to my class notes and suggested readings (all in PDF format). To connect you need your user name and your UIC password. Only students registered for EaES 516 will be able to access these notes. 

Grading

• 40% Term paper.
• 10% Term paper presentation and defense
• 25% Participation to class discussion 
• 25% Literature  review. 

I would like to have the e-mail address of every student registered for Geol 285. Changes in the schedule might appear necessary. Informing you of these changes via e-mail will insure good and fast communication. 

Software

To draw organic molecules for exercises or your term paper you can use ISIS DRAW a freeware made available for non profit organization and students by MDL Information System inc on their WWW site, mdli.com. 
 

TOP