How to design an alien: life on other planets?

6 EC

Semester 1, period 1, 2

5502HTMA6Y

Owner College of Sciences (algemeen)
Coordinator prof. dr. C. Dominik
Part of Bachelor Biologie, year 2Bachelor Biomedische wetenschappen, year 2Bachelor Psychobiologie, year 2Dubbele bachelor Wis- en Natuurkunde, year 2Dubbele bachelor Wiskunde en Informatica, year 2Bachelor Physics and Astronomy (Joint Degree), year 2Bachelor Chemistry (Joint Degree), year 2Bachelor Biologie, year 3Bachelor Biomedische wetenschappen, year 3Bachelor Psychobiologie, year 3Dubbele bachelor Wis- en Natuurkunde, year 3Dubbele bachelor Wiskunde en Informatica, year 3Bachelor Physics and Astronomy (Joint Degree), year 3Bachelor Chemistry (Joint Degree), year 3

Course manual 2022/2023

Course content

The intriguing possibilities of life in places beyond Earth, is becoming a viable research field, thanks to advances in chemistry, life science, planetary science and astronomy.  In this transdisciplinary honours course (we will consider non-honours students if there is space) we will address the different dimensions of this question.  We will look at the chemical foundations of reactions that can deliver energy and that can store and copy information. We will analyse the properties of life on Earth and extract the essential aspects of and requirements for Life, and discuss its adaptability.  We will then turn to extrasolar planets and investigate the variety of conditions that can be expected to exist.  We discuss the origin of life on Earth, and extrapolate to other places, conditions, and Life forms.  The course starts with a series of 8 lectures during which teachers from all involved disciplines alternate.  The second part will be a group project. Groups will consist of at least one student each from the different disciplines.  They will work together to introduce each other into the various disciplinary subjects and to speculate about aspects and possible forms of life in a new planetary setting that will be defined for them by the teaching staff.

Lectures will be planned in the evening (17-19 h), probably on Monday and Thursday in periode 1. In period 2 and 3 there will be project meetings in the evenings, approximately once per week.

Objectives

    Teaching methods

    • Cross teaching by students
    • Lecture
    • Presentation/symposium
    • Self-study
    • Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis
    • Supervision/feedback meeting

    Learning activities

    Activiteit

    Aantal uur

    Zelfstudie

    168

    Assessment

    Item and weight Details

    Final grade

    Fraud and plagiarism

    The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

    Course structure

    Weeknummer Onderwerpen Studiestof
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16

    Timetable

    The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

    Contact information

    Coordinator

    • prof. dr. C. Dominik