We will explore the conditions under which the formation and evolution of a planet allow it to develop and support life. Using Earth as our only real model for a planet supporting life, we will consider the global geophysical and geochemical processes critical in our planet's development and the culmination in sentient beings. The prospect for life within our solar system and beyond will be discussed.
 

 

Textbook: Reading: Brownlee & Ward, Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Rare in the Universe, Springer, ISBN 0387952896.  

               (Chapter readings indicated on schedule as C#)

Topics Covered and Dates (Syllabus)

• April 1    - Seminar overview
(C1)

• April 8    - Planet formation; Habitable zone
(C2,3)       Emily Martin   Presentation ;    Ellen Kletscher   Presentation
• April 15  - Early Earth & life's origin; Life on terrestrial planets
(C4,5)        Adam Morris-Cohen   Presentation ;    Oliver Chen   Presentation

• April 17  - 3:30PM, Department Seminar: "Energetics of `Habitability'"    
                  #### Tori Hoehler, NASA Ames Research #### University Hall 122
• April 22  - Plate tectonics, process; Evolution of Earth
(C9)          Rebecca Fischer   Presentation ;
                 #### Steven Jacobsen, NU #### "Role of water in Earth" Presentation
• April 29  - 3PM, Department Seminar: "Origins of Photosynthesis & Granite"                  #### Norman Sleep, Stanford University #### Presentation
• May 6      - Cambrian explosion; Snowball Earth
(C6,7))      Dan Li   Presentation ;   Maya Gomes   Presentation
                       Sutatcha Hongsresawat   Presentation
• May 13    - Mass extinctions & development of intelligence; SETI
(C8,10)      Mimi Zou   Presentation     
                  #### Craig Bina, NU #### "Subduction Tectonics: Dry, Wet, and Frozen"                   Presentation
• May 20    - Exploration of the solar system
(C11,12)    Kim Adams   Presentation     
• May 27    - Exoplanets; Kepler: Search for planets
(C13)         Julia Fang   Presentation ;    Teresa Wong   Presentation


• June 2-5  - WCAS Reading Week
 

        Norman H. Sleep, Stanford University - Web Book:   Planetary Habitability

Space Missions Hubble Space Telescope images JPL Missions Galileo Deep Impact Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous Mars Odyssey Kepler	Miscellaneous: Kuiper Belt Exoplanet, EU Exoplanet Database Make A Planet or Satellite Globe Shuttle Assembly NASA Origin of Life

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Created: AM - 4/16/2009
Last Update: SL - 4/17/2009