Micropaleontology and Laboratory

Knowledge and understanding: the students will learn how to identify the microfossils and apply them in biostratigraphic analysis and how to perform paleoenviromental and paleoceanographic recontructions using microfossils in both petroleum exploration and scientific research.

Applying knowledge and understanding: the knowledge acquired will allow the student to solve stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental problems through correlation and calibration of microfossils with other stratigraphic tools and fossil groups and evaluate the interactions with the ecological and paleoenvironmental factors in a successful interdisciplinary context.
Making judgements: the practical exercises at the microscope are designed to acquire the necessary knowledge on data acquisitions and data interpretation considering the type of material, and to develop the ability to evaluate the significance and the implication of the obtained results in the geological/environmental topics under examination.
Communication skills: the identification of the microfossils, and their biostratigraphic, paleoecological and paleoceanographic significances, together with the methodology of data acquisition and the integration with other geological tools, will enhance the communication skills with specialist and non specialist audience in a multidisciplinary context.
Learning skills: lectures and practical exercise at the microscope are focused on learning the theories and on directly apply them in problem solving scenarios and, therefore, help to acquire autonomy skills in learning and in improving the own knowledge on specialized professional and research topics.