Volcanoes are a major force that influence not only how our own planet works, but also many other solid bodies of the solar system and beyond. In this four-week , highly interactive course we will explore the foundations of volcanology. 

This course provides an important foundational understanding of one of the most powerful forces in geology. It blends together the topics of space and earth sciences to provide a fascinating insight into own of the current frontiers of planetary science. 

We will invest age questions such as:

- What is a volcano?
- How do we study volcanic activities on both our own planet and others?
- Is the rock cycle different on different planets?
- What are the different kinds of lava?
- Where do we see active volcanism?

Week 1: Magma - In this lesson we will explore the nature and origins of magma and volcanic products. We will pay special attention to the rock cycle.
 
Week 2: Types and Forms of Volcanic Activity - Learners will explore the different types of eruptions and volcanic structures, including features such as calderas, rilles, and domes. 

Week 3: Silicate and Sulfur Volcanism - This week will will investigate the classical volcanism of Earth and the other terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Moon, and Mars) as well as the volcanism seen on Io at Jupiter. 

Week 4: Cyrovolcanism - For our final meeting we will explore the strange and newly discovered for of volcanism known as cyrovolcanism, or ice volcanism, seen on cold worlds such as Ceres, Pluto, and Triton.!

Students will learn through a highly visual, image filled lecture and discussion. The instructor will share many of her own photographs and footage of volcanic features along with images taken by professional photographers and volcanologists. 

Student questions and participation are regularly encouraged. 

There is no textbook or prerequisites for this class, just a love of learning and curiosity for geology, astronomy and STEM. All necessary learning materials will be provided in the classroom. Classes are designed to encourage student engagement and follow their curiosity.