University of Canterbury

This course examines the study of the physical properties of matter. It integrates the study of thermal properties of matter in bulk (thermodynamics) with the molecular/atomic approach (statistical physics). The particle physics is further extended to subatomic scales with an introduction to the phenomenology of nuclear structure, radiation processes and the standard model of particle interactions.

This course connects the fundamental wood science concepts to primary and secondary wood processing. Specifically, the course provides advance knowledge in processing of solid wood, wood-based composite, and modified wood products from the theoretical and practical aspects highlighting production yield, product evaluation, quality control management, manufacturing technology, and environmental impacts.

This course examines sedimentology and stratigraphy as a record of Earth’s changing landscapes, depositional environments, and climates through time. It covers the principles of fluid flow, sediment transport, and sedimentary depositional environments and how these processes affect the texture and composition of sedimentary rocks; carbonate sedimentology and oceanography; the interpretation of carbonate environments; the interaction of biota with substrates; the preservation potential of different fossil groups; and sedimentary features.

This course examines the evolution of the Antarctic continent; the dynamics of polar ice; the drivers of weather and climate in Antarctica; the circulation of the Southern Ocean; and astronomy and human interaction with the polar region, including the history of exploration and intriguing legal issues.

This course examines the trajectory of the Academy Awards: from 1930s screwball comedies and backstage musicals to celebrated wartime classics; from 1950s Minnelli musicals to 1980s post-Vietnam war films. It will provide a concentrated, thumbnail history of American Cinema, which challenges students to consider and question the formal criteria (cinematography, acting, sound, editing) upon which critical judgement is based. It will introduce students to the canonical classics of American Cinema, inviting them to explore diverse film genres and even the occasional Academy extravaganza.