Geodynamics Seminar
MIT's Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution seminar series tackles three questions about our planet's deep past: how Earth formed, what early Earth looked like, and when life first appeared. Guest experts in meteoritics, planetary geology, thermodynamics, and biosignature tracers present current research and competing theories, drawing comparisons to other planetary bodies and even other solar systems. Sessions move from microscopic mineral evidence up to solar-system-scale formation models, covering topics like early atmospheres and oceans. The course materials, available through MIT OpenCourseWare, include readings and session topics organized around the seminar's guiding questions. It suits students who already have background in earth or planetary science and want exposure to open debates in the field rather than settled textbook material.