Astrobiology
This course is designed for all students with an interest in the origin and evolution of life onEarth as well as the quest for life on other worlds within and beyond the solar system. Topicsinclude the nature of life; environments and environmental impact of Earth life; extremophiles;habitability; the search for life in the universe; the ethical and societal implications of detectinglife on another planet; and the portrayal of alien life and astrobiology in science fiction.Astrobiology is inherently interdisciplinary, and the course is structured to advance the ability ofstudents to think critically and communicate ideas across traditional disciplinary divides.Students from all disciplines are welcome and encouraged to enroll.
Topics
- By the end of this course students will be able to: • Describe the nature, variety, requirements, and history of life on Earth. • Identify and describe the constituents of the Solar System, including potentially habitable environments and sources of elements known to be important to Earth life. • Explain the formation and evolution of the Solar System and our planet Earth. • Discuss how the climate of Earth has changed over time and describe the relationship between the Earth’s climate and the presence of life. • Apply knowledge of Earth’s geology, climate, and biosphere to develop definitions for Earth-like life and Earth-like planets. • Apply concepts from physics, planetary science, astronomy, and mathematics to explain the motions and properties of planets and moons. • Apply concepts from biology and chemistry to assess the suitability of various environments for life. • Select appropriate approximations and scaling relationships to make predictions about physical and biological systems. • Evaluate the habitability of various environments and identify ways to search for life. • Describe and evaluate claims of the detection of habitable or inhabited environments on other worlds. • Argue for or against actively seeking contact with alien civilizations and building human settlements on other planets. • Read, analyze, synthesize, and summarize scientific information. • Effectively communicate scientific content in oral and written presentations. • Critically analyze the portrayal of astrobiological topics in fiction.
Official catalogue course objectives and student learning outcomes
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027