[Dark Knight]

In addition to medicine and agriculture, evolutionary theory has found use in the prospecting for fossil fuels. Drilling for oil is expensive, and involves a degree of risk. The more you understand about the ancient climate at the time the strata was laid down, the better your chance of identifying a possible crude oil reservoir. Modern oil exploration makes heavy use of micropaleontology, or the study of microscopic fossil life, such as algaes and diatoms. Combined with stratigraphy, geologists paint a picture of the ancient climate in order to drill fewer dry holes. In this way, geology and evolutionary theory combine into the applied science of petroleum engineering.<<

So can you cite a class for future petroleum engineers on applied evolutionary theory for geologists?

Or is this just another thought experiment to "broaden" the usefulness of the theory?

DK

[Liberal Classic]

So can you cite a class for future petroleum engineers on applied evolutionary theory for geologists?

Of course.

Here's one at my university:

PRINCIPLES OF PALEOBIOLOGY

This example is one of a single undergraduate course picked somewhat at random.

For futher discussion of this issue, here is a press release by the Geological Society of America on what they have to say on the subject:

The Geological Society of America recognizes that the evolution of life stands as one of the central concepts of modern science. Research in numerous fields of science during the past two centuries has produced an increasingly detailed picture of how life has evolved on Earth.