GC 299 50 - Earth System Science

Welcome

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Meet Professor Fadonougbo' Aku

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the class! I’m really glad you’re here.

My name is Professor Fadonougbo'Aku, and I’ll be your instructor this term. Before we get started, I want to share a little about myself so you know who you’re learning with.

I’ve had a pretty unique journey. I spent about 6 years living and teaching outside of the United States—in Shanghai, China; Dubai; and Kuwait. I returned in 2021 after getting engaged and having my son. Now I’m married with four children, so life is definitely full and busy, but I truly love it.

Professionally, I’ve worked in different fields. I spent about 10 years as a General Manager at Best Buy before transitioning into education, where my passion truly lies. Currently, I teach at the secondary level, serve on the board at my church, and I’m in the final stages of preparing for my dissertation defense.

Most importantly, I am a believer who has experienced God’s grace in my life, and that shapes how I show up—with patience, purpose, and a heart to serve others.

In this class, my goal is simple: I want you to truly understand what you’re learning and feel confident doing it.

You don’t have to be perfect—just be willing to try, stay consistent, and ask questions when you need help. I’m here to support you.

I’m looking forward to getting to know each of you.

Let’s have a great term together!

— Professor Fadonougbo'Aku

Syllabus File(s)

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  • Week 1: Habitable Earth as an Earth System [unit]

    Focus: Define habitability as an Earth system problem that requires integrating Earth’s interior, surface processes, oceans, atmosphere, life, and the space environment. Introduce the course’s core questions about what makes Earth habitable and how we study it using an Earth system science perspective.

    Required Reading

    1. Past, Present and Future of a Habitable Earth, Chapter 1
    2. Past, Present and Future of a Habitable Earth, Chapter 2
    3. Past, Present, and Future of a Habitable Earth, Chapter 5 (focus on interdisciplinary approaches and the human Earth system as a coupled system)
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  • Week 2: Deep Earth Processes That Shape Habitability [unit]

    Focus: Explain how deep Earth dynamics connect to surface environments over long timescales and why linking deep Earth and surface Earth perspectives matters for habitability.

    Reading: Past, Present and Future of a Habitable Earth, Chapter 5, section emphasizing deep Earth, deep sea, deep space, and whole Earth system perspectives.
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  • Week 3: Resources, Energy, and Earth Habitability [unit]

    Focus: Connect energy systems and resource availability to Earth processes and environmental constraints, using oil and gas as an example, and link resource security to long-term habitability.


    Reading: Past, Present, and Future of a Habitable Earth, Chapter 3 (resources and energy security; role of oil and gas).

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  • Week 4: Deep Space Perspectives and Exoplanet Habitability [unit]

    Focus: Explain how habitability is assessed beyond Earth, including the role of liquid water and planetary and stellar properties, and how exoplanet science clarifies what is distinctive about Earth.


    Reading: Past, Present, and Future of a Habitable Earth, Chapter 4 (exoplanet exploration; habitability constraints; liquid water).
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  • Week 5: Earth Observation, Data Sharing, and Integrated Systems Thinking [unit]

    Focus: Explain how Earth system research depends on observation, integration across sea and land atmosphere, and data sharing platforms that support quantitative Earth system analysis.


    Reading: Past, Present, and Future of a Habitable Earth, Chapter 5 (integrated observation systems; data sharing mechanisms and platforms).

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  • Week 6: AI Applications for Earth-Related Sciences [unit]

    Focus: Introduce how AI supports the analysis of large Earth-relevant datasets from in situ and remote sensing, including summarization, dimensionality reduction, and clustering, and how to evaluate interpretability versus utility.

    Reading: Artificial Intelligence and Systems of the Earth, Chapter 3 (AI across Earth system disciplines; examples such as PCA and clustering).
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  • Week 7: AI Limits, Scientific Challenges, and a Future Habitable Earth [unit]

    Focus: Address complex Earth system behaviors such as teleconnections, cross-talk, weak signals, and correlation versus causation, and apply these ideas to responsible AI-enabled research or decision support for sustainability and habitability.


    Reading: Artificial Intelligence and Systems of the Earth, Chapter 4 (teleconnections; limits of correlation-based learning for scientific understanding).

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  • Course Syllabus

    Updated syllabus for Summer 2026. 
    Name Description Status Source
    Summer 2026 On-Campus Syllabus

    This is the most up-to-date syllabus for Summer 2026. Please take the time to read it thoroughly.

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