GEOL2179: The Atacama

The Atacama Desert occupies a continuous strip of nearly 1,000 miles along the Pacific coast of northern Chile, South America. It is the driest non-polar desert in the world. Yet, near inland oases and valleys, people have lived in the desert for millennia and make up some of the most advanced Pre-Columbian societies found in Chile. This course offers students the opportunity to travel to the Atacama following formal instruction on the geology of the region. Due to the altitude and dry, dark skies, some of the most sophisticated telescopes in the world are found there. Students will review astronomy before the tour, as well as learn photography and video techniques to document the stunning beauty and culture of the region. Throughout the course, a human perspective of the region will be included. Students will learn about the indigenous people of the Atacama, visit archaeological sites and learn the history of the region up to the current day. This includes a review of the extensive present day mining of its rich geology and a visit to its world-class telescope sites. By Permission Only.

Additional Information: The course is also being taught synchronously with a selected group of Chilean students, from the Universidad de Concepción, Chile, who will join the UC students for a study tour of the Atacama region at the end of the term.

• Fall 2018