2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Science Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Graduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Advanced Earth and Space Sciences L
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Shintaro Azuma
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- EPS.A429
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 5, 2026
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course provides an introduction to elastic deformation, plastic deformation, and fracture in rocks and minerals that govern the dynamics of the Earth's interior, covering processes from atomic- and crystal-scale mechanisms to macroscopic mechanical behavior. In addition, students will conduct exercises using data obtained from deformation experiments to estimate the strength profiles of the Earth's interior and to develop an understanding of how laboratory data can be applied to nature. Furthermore, through presentations of scientific papers related to deformation, students will develop an understanding of current research trends in the field of rheology.
The course consists of seven lectures. The schedule will be announced via the link provided below. http://www.geo.titech.ac.jp/en/education.php
Course description and aims
Students will learn the fundamentals of rock and mineral deformation occurring within planetary interiors and understand methods for applying laboratory data to deformation processes in planetary interiors.
Keywords
Earth dynamics
Rock deformation
Deformation experiment
Crust
Mantle
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
In addition to lectures, students will work on exercises related to the lecture topics and give a presentation on a scientific paper related to deformation.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction: The Importance of Rock and Mineral Deformation |
Understand the fundamentals of deformation in the Earth's interior. |
| Class 2 | Deformation mechanisms of rocks and minerals |
Understand the fundamental deformation mechanisms of rocks and minerals. |
| Class 3 | Exercise 1 (Flow Law) |
Understand the data obtained from the deformation experiments. |
| Class 4 | Temperature, pressure, and strength profiles of planetary interiors |
Understand which physical parameters control the strength of planetary interiors. |
| Class 5 | Exercise 1 (Strength profile) |
Understand the methods for calculating the strength profiles of the Earth's interior. |
| Class 6 | Frontiers in Deformation Experiments (paper review) |
Summarize frontier research related to deformation experiments. |
| Class 7 | Presentation on research articles |
Perform a group presentation. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Deformation of Earth Materials: An Introduction to the Rheology of Solid Earth (Shun-ichiro Karato)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Course materials will be distributed at each class.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Evaluation will be based on attendance, in-class assignments, and presentations.
Related courses
- EPS.A331 ： Earth Materials
- EPS.A205 ： Introduction to Earth Sciences
- EPS.A418 ： Advanced Earth and Space Sciences E
Prerequisites
None