AST 183

AST 183 - Life in the Universe
Course Web Site: http://www.sirtf.nau.edu~koerner/ast183/Sp08/

General Information

College of Arts and Sciences; Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
Course Prefix AST 183; Course Number 6724
Spring Semester 2008
Meeting Time: MWF 1:50-2:40 (3 Credit Hours);
Location: Physical Sciences RM 233
Instructor: Dr. Dave Koerner
Office Address: Physical Sciences (bldg 19) 315
Office Hours: T Th 2:00-3:30
Office Phone: 928-523-4562

Course Prerequisites: None

Course Description:

This course is a multi-disciplinary exploration of modern scientific inquiry into the question of life's origin, evolution, and future place in the universe. We will investigate the cosmological origin of life's chemical building blocks together with planetary influences on its genesis, evolution, and range of environments. Additional studies of the technological search for extra-terrestrial life in the solar system and beyond will focus on spacecraft missions to Mars and Europa, together with NASA technologies currently being designed to search for life on planets around nearby stars. Twin thematic focuses are Environmental Consciousness, and Technology and Its Impact. This course is a liberal studies course in the Science/Applied Science distribution block. It will address several essential skills (creative thinking, critical reading, and ethical reasoning) and will pay particular attention through assessment to critical thinking, quantitative analysis, use of technology, and scientific inquiry.

Course Objectives:

Students will be able to discriminate between scientific and pseudo-scientific claims about evidence for extra-terrestrial life (scientific inquiry, critical reading)
Students will be able to identify the principal astrophysical events which contributed to the origin and evolution of life on Earth and use this information to make conclusions about the likelihood of extra-terrestrial life (creative thinking, critical thinking, quantitative analysis, and scientific inquiry)
Students will be able to describe the key elements of life's interaction with the planetary environment (Environmental Consciousness, scientific inquiry, critical thinking quantitative analysis)
Students will be able to make predictions about the likelihood of extra-terrestrial intelligent life, based on understanding of key evolutionary events that led to its appearance on earth (scientific inquiry, creative thinking, critical thinking, quantitative reasoning)
Students will be able to identify the technological challenges posed by space travel between the planets and between stellar systems (Technology and its Impact, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking)
Students will define and criticize ethical issues in the debate about how to respond to contact with hypothetical extra-terrestrial species, based partly on knowledge of historical inter-cultural exchanges among humans (ethical reasoning, creative thinking).

Course Structure/Approach:

This class is primarily a lecture class (optional lab is AST 184L). Class discussions will be held as appropriate.

Textbook and required materials: "Life in the Universe" (LITU) by Bennett, Shostak, & Jakosky Second Edition!; "Here Be Dragons" (HBD) by Koerner & LeVay

Course Outline (approximate) Reading in Green:

Week 1 (Jan 14-18) -- Course Overview

Week 2 (Jan 21-25) -- A Universe of Life? (LITU, Ch. 1; HBD Intro)

Week 3 (Jan 28-Feb 1) -- The Science of Life in the Universe (LITU Ch. 2)

Week 4 (Feb 4-8) -- The Universal Context of life (LITU, Ch. 3; HBD Ch. 4, 10)

Week 5 (Feb 11-15) -- The Habitability of Earth (LITU, Ch. 4)

Week 6 (Feb 18-22) -- The Nature of Life on Earth (LITU Ch. 5; HBD, Ch. 2)

Week 7 (Feb 25-29) -- The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth (LITU, Ch. 6, HBD, Ch. 1,6)
Week 8 (Mar 3-7) -- Searching for Life in the Solar System (LITU, Ch. 7)

Week 9 (Mar 10-14) -- Mars (LITU, Ch. 8; HBD Ch.3)

Week 10 (Mar 17-21)-- Spring Break

Week 11 (Mar 24-28)-- Life on Jovian Moons (LITU, Ch. 9)

Week 12 (Mar31-Apr4) -- The Nature and Evolution of Habitability (LITU, Ch. 10)

Week 13 (Apr 7-11) -- Habitability Outside the Solar System (LITU, Ch. 11: HBD Ch. 5)

Week 14 (Apr 14-18) -- The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence(LITU, Ch. 11; HBD, Ch. 7)

Week 15 (Apr 21-25) -- Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox (LITU, Ch. 12; HBD, Ch. 8)

Week 16 (Apr 28-May 2) -- End of Term Week (HBD, "Conclusions") (Final Review)

Week 17 (May 7) -- Final Exam (10:00am- 12:00pm)

Evaluation Methods and Deadlines:

Examinations -- Weekly multiple-choice Quizzes will be given online in Vista. Three in-class exams will consist largely of multiple choice questions

Class Participation - Occasional class tutorial assignments will be scheduled randomly

Homework Assignments: Writing projects will be assigned and turned in online, either in VISTA or on a discussion board.

A comprehensive final will be given at the end of the course

Grading System -- Grade will depend on Online Quizzes and assignments, Class Participation, Midterm Exams, and Final in the ratio 25:10:45:20. The lowest midterm score will be dropped to cover any absences due to illness, event conflicts, or extenuating circumstances.
No makeups will be given!

Course Policy

Retests/makeup tests -- No midterm makeups since lowest score is dropped

Statement on plagiarism and cheating -- This course requires professional and ethical behavior. Plagiarism, or any form of cheating, violates this principle and will not be tolerated. The University regards acts of academic dishonesty as very serious offenses. Students charged with academic dishonesty are subject to the Arizona Board of Regents Code of Conduct and Procedures established by NAU.