Doctoral Programme in Environmental Change and Human Impact in the Quaternary Period

The Quaternary period is the most recent in the geological history of our planet (the last 2.6 million years) and is characterised by frequent and rapid climate oscillations on different scales. Consequently, different geological processes have affected the Earth's surface, shaping it as we know it today. Meanwhile, human beings appeared on the planet during the Quaternary period, following a particular evolutionary pattern with several species, achieving impressive cultural progress, interacting with the environment and becoming key elements in its development.

Quaternary studies represent one of the newest and most active branches of Earth Sciences and Humanities. Their growth is due to 5 main causes:

1) the quality of the sedimentary record or geo-archaeological interest;

2) the methodological progress in field and laboratory techniques;

3) the development of different absolute and relative dating methods;

4) research into sedimentary sequences on the ocean bed;

5) the social interest in the evolution of our species and the cultural influence of climatic and environmental variations on the future of the planet.

This doctoral programme offers a research profile that is specialised, transversal and inter-disciplinary, as well as being familiar with the techniques and methods used in Geology, Prehistoric Studies and Anthropology.