Students will choose 9 units of core courses from the following list.
Astronomy 475
Planetary Astrobiology
Instructors
This course will explore the processes related to planet formation, the properties of planets and the planetary conditions required for the emergence of life. We will study the formation of our Solar System and exoplanetary systems, the distribution and properties of exoplanets, and the potential habitability of other planets/moons in our system or extrasolar systems. The course will also review science cases and possible future astrobiology studies, both in site and via remote sensing, of astrobiologically relevant environments. Toward the end of the semester a few guest lectures will highlight particularly exciting and timely topics.
Spring 2016
Class meets: Tue and Thu 11-12:15
Classroom: Steward Observatory Rm 202
Office: Steward Observatory Rooms 208B and N414
Phone: 621-6534, 626-7645
Email: apai@arizona.edu jeisner@email.arizona.edu
Office Hrs: By appointment or whenever the door is open
Textbook
The main text for the course is “Planetary Science” by Lissauer and de Pater. We also recommend "Evolution of a Habitable Planet" (2nd Edition) by Jonathan Lunine, "Exoplanet Atmospheres" by Sara Seager and “Planets and Life” by Sullivan and Baross. Copies should be available in the campus bookstore. Some topics are beyond the scope of these books, and we will draw from journal articles and other sources in these cases.
Lectures
The classes will be devoted to lectures. Professor Eisner will lecture for the first 6 weeks or so, and then Professor Apai will lecture for about 6 weeks. Toward the end of the semester, both professors and guest lecturers will highlight particularly interesting or timely astrobiology topics. The final lecture(s) will be devoted to student group presentations of astrobiology mission concepts.
Homework and Classwork
There will be approximately six homework assignments during the semester, which will consist of problems that should be completed individually. Many assignments will contain one or more advanced questions for graduate students only. All assignments will be due at the beginning of class on Tuesdays. At the end of the semester students will form small groups and collaboratively develop concepts/proposals for astrobiology missions. These concepts will be described in 20-minute presentations and evaluated for their science cases, innovative solutions, and feasibility. Graduate students will also need to submit a written project description, including detailed science case.
Exams
There will be a final exam. This exam will cover material discussed in lecture as well as in the homework.
Grading
The evaluation of the graduate students will also include the advanced problem sets and a written report on the astrobiology mission concept.
The grades undergraduates will be computed as follows:
Homework 40%
Mission Concept (Presentation) 30%
Final Exam 30%
Grades may be adjusted to reflect overall class performance.
The grades for graduate students will be computed as follows:
- Homework (incl. advanced problems) 40%
- Mission Concept (Report + Presentation) 30%
- Final Exam 30%
Grades may be adjusted to reflect overall class performance.
Academic Integrity
The University of Arizona’s Code of Academic Integrity
Consequences of academic dishonesty can range from loss of credit on an exam or assignment to expulsion from the university, depending on the severity of the offense.
Students with Disabilities
If you anticipate barriers related to the format or requirements of this course, please discuss with us ways to ensure your full participation. If disability-related accommodations are necessary, please register with Disability Resources (621-3268; drc.arizona.edu) and notify us of your eligibility for reasonable accommodations. We can then plan how best to coordinate your accommodations.
Topic Schedule and Corresponding Reading
A preliminary plan for the topics is attached. The topics and the schedule will likely be slightly adjusted to reflect progress as the semester progresses.
Further Reading / Links
Astronomy 488A
Astrochemistry
This astrochemistry course is the study of gas phase and solid state chemical processes that occur in the universe, including those leading to pre-biotic compounds. Topics include chemical processes in dying stars, circumstellar gas, planetary nebulae, diffuse clouds, star-forming regions and proto-planetary discs, as well as planets, satellites, comets and asteroids. Observational methods and theoretical concepts will be discussed.
Geosciences 484
Coevolution of Earth and the Biosphere
This course examines the interplay of changes in earth environments and biological evolution from the earliest life to the present. The focus is geochmical and topics include the early earth and life, evolutionary jumps, massextinctions, and the rise of hominds.
Molecular and Cellular Biology 315
Key Concepts in Quantitative Biology
This one-semester introductory course covers key principles of molecular and cellular biology, with an emphasis on contemporary quantitative approaches such as systems biology and genomic analysis. Topics to be covered include cellular growth control and cancer, the role of viruses in human disease, developmental biology, and stem cell research. It is intended both for students in the life sciences interested in quantitative methods and for students outside the life sciences with an intellectual curiosity about biological systems. The course will provide an integrated conceptual foundation in biology and develop critical thinking skills and quantitative problem-solving abilities. Students will be expected to work on group projects, on-line assignments, presentations, problem sets, and essay exams, and to participate in class discussions and group problem solving. Discussions will explore readings in current scientific literature.
Molecular and Cellular Biology 437
Life in Extreme Environments
Extreme environments are numerous and diverse on Earth. Despite harsh environmental conditions, microbes have been found thriving from the deepest seafloors to the highest mountains, from the coldest polar regions to the hottest and most arid deserts or steaming hot springs. Microbes survival in such extreme and varied conditions allows them to play fundamental roles in global nutrient cycling. The course will encompass foundational material for the study of life in extreme environments.
In this course, we will examine microbial adaptations to their environment, how the adaptive responses affect microorganisms' evolution and how microorganisms modify their environment. We will consider physical extremes, such as temperature, radiation, pressure, and geochemical extremes (e.g., desiccation, salinity, pH, depletion of oxygen or extreme redox potential).
We will also assess how the study of life in extreme environments can provides critical elements of answer to important questions such as: "How did life appear on our planet?", "How microbes made Earth habitable?" and "Could life exist beyond our planet?", and explore the impact of human activity on ecosystems. Additionally, we will explore the wide application potential of this area of research in the fields of medicine, biotechnology, chemical and pharmaceutical industry, or cosmetics.
Planetary Sciences 450
Origin of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems
This course will review the physical processes related to the formation and evolution of the protosolar nebula and of protoplanetary disks. In doing that, we will discuss the main stages of planet formation and how different disk conditions impact planetary architectures and planet properties. We will confront the theories of disk evolution and planet formation with observations of circumstellar disks, exoplanets, and the planets and minor bodies in our Solar System.