Astronomy 405: Astrobiology (Fall 2007)

 

Professor: Debra Fischer, PhD.                     Telephone: Office: 415 338-1697

Office: Thornton Hall 527                            Email address: fischer(at)stars.sfsu.edu

 

Office Hours: Monday 2 - 3 pm, or by appointment

Lecture: MWF 1:10 PM - Please arrive to class on time!

 

Course Syllabus: http://www.physics.sfsu.edu/~fischer/courses/Astr405/syllabus.html

Lectures will be posted and linked from the website at the end of each week.

 

Description: In this course we will examine the origin of the cosmos, chemical evolution in stellar cores, planet formation and evolution, and mechanisms for maintenance of planetary habitability. Key concepts in physics, chemistry, geology and biology will be studied at a level appropriate for upper division undergraduate students. Students are expected to read and interpret some of the seminal papers in astrophysics and biology. Students will write one scientific research paper and present their findings in class. At the end of the semester, students will draw upon their new knowledge to write an original analysis that quantifies the probability of life elsewhere in the Galaxy.

 

Text and other required course materials

1) “Astrobiology, A Multidisciplinary Approach” by Jonathon Lunine

2) “On Natural Selection,” (an excerpt from “The Origin of Species”) by Charles Darwin

3) Course Reader

 

Internet Access        

You will need internet access for this course. Computers for student use are available in a 24-hour lab in the J. Paul Leonard Library (338-1490). An online syllabus will contain information about reading, lectures, handouts, and homework.

           

Homework

Homework will account for 40% of your grade. Weekly homework assignments are due every Friday at the beginning of class. The lowest homework score will be dropped when calculating your grade.: Every week, you can count on the following two homework problems:

(1) From lecture/reading/class discussion this week, identify at least 3 factors that could bear on the formation of extraterrestrial life. This will help with your final essay on the “Probability of Life in the Universe.”

(2) Write one final exam question based on lecture or reading, provide the answer (if multiple choice, provide the wrong answers, too). Yes, you really will be writing the final exam!

 

Homework solutions must be neat so that I can grade them efficiently – no torn spiral notebook paper. To encourage you to type most of your answers, I will provide the homework questions in MS Word document format, linked to the class website. You may write in calculations by hand, if you prefer, but keep your work neat and logical. Keep your graded homework’s to study for the final and for class projects.

 

 

 

 

Science Research Paper and Presentation

A written paper requiring some literature research will be required. I have compiled a list of problems. You will present the results or your research to the class in a short (5 minute) presentation. The Research Paper will count for 5% of your grade and the Presentation will count for 5% of your grade. Presentation time slots will begin at the end of October, and finish by the end of November and the paper should be submitted on the day of the presentation.

 

Essay: Probability of Life in the Universe

The goal of this course is to synthesize our knowledge to help us address this question. You will write an essay on this topic, due Dec 14, drawing from the scientific principles you’ve learned during the semester. To help you manage this essay, one of the weekly homework questions will ask you to identify 3 factors that bear on the probability of life elsewhere. I recommend that you keep a notebook that you maintain a daily log where you distill key points for this homework problem.

 

Exams and Quizzes

Short, weekly quizzes will be given every Monday at the start of class. The lowest score will be dropped – no makeups will be given – and your mean quiz score will count for 15% of your grade. Quizzes will be straightforward questions based on the reading assignment for the week.

 

A comprehensive final exam will be given. At the end of the semester, each students will contribute 15 questions for the final exam. One of your weekly homework questions is designed to make this easier for you!

 

Evaluation:

 

Homework	40%
Quizzes (drop 1)	15%
Science Research Project	5%
Research Project Presentation	5%
Essay: Probability of Life	10%
Final exam	25%

 

 

Hints for success in this course: an enormous amount of reading and thoughtful analytic synthesis will be required of you. To be an efficient student:

1. Be on time for class. A significant amount of supplementary material will be covered in lectures, so regular attendance and active participation are very important.

2. Read each chapter the weekend before it is assigned – Monday quizzes will contain an easy question from the reading. Monday quizzes begin promptly at the start of class and no make-ups are given.

3. Keep an electronic log or a logbook. At the end of each lecture, write down the key points that will go into the first homework problem each week and used to estimate the Probability of Life in the Universe.

4. Spend a few minutes on Monday reading through the current homework assignment so that you’ll be watching for the answers in class.