NFYK16008U Exoplanets and Astrobiology
MSc Programme in Physics
The purpose of the course is to present an understanding of how
the complexity of matter has evolved from its simplest forms during
Big Bang to the rise of intelligent life that is capable of
understanding its own place in this fabulous development.
Formation of the elements during Big Bang, supernovae and red
giants. Dust formation, stellar winds, and the re-circulation of
cosmic material. Formation of the solar system. Planets around
other stars. The physical-chemical basis for life. The arise and
development of life on the Earth. Conditions for finding life
beyond Earth. The search for extraterrestrial
intelligence.
Skills
When the course is finished it is expected that the student is able
to:
- Explain how the simplest material arose and developed into the complex matter of modern day universe.
- Put our own solar system in context of planetary systems in the Galaxy in general.
- Explain the difference between dead and living material and explain what is meant by intelligence and by alien life.
- Explain how we at least in principle can identify and communicate with extraterrestrial life forms.
Knowledge
Understanding of how the simplest elements were formed during Big
Bang and how stars have processed them into larger atoms, molecules
and solid material during the lifetime of the universe.
Understanding how we today can measure the conditions and processes
that formed our solar system 4.6 Gyr ago and how we can compare
that with the formation of other planetary systems. Understand the
existing search methods for finding planets around other stars, and
being able to compare the results of these methods to the knowledge
we have about our own solar system. Understand the basic conditions
that played a role for the rise of life on Earth, and some theories
for how the development to advanced life forms can have taken
place.
Competences
Being able to argue for and against whether similar processes can
have taken place on other planets. Understand how we can search for
traces of life elsewhere in the universe and what our limitations
in searching for it are.
This course will provide the students with a competent background
for further studies within this research field, e.g. an M.Sc.
project
Lecture notes
The course is typically followed by students with various different backgrounds, and the most important is therefore curiosity toward aspects of the broad range of sciences that are involved in understanding why the universe eventually came to including intelligent life.
Mathematical skills on the level of having passed an introductory mathematics course at B.Sc. level in e.g. the physics B.Sc..
You are not requested to know more biology prior to the course than what is taught in highschool.
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 48
- Preparation
- 129,5
- Exercises
- 28
- Exam
- 0,5
- Total
- 206,0
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 30 min
- Type of assessment details
- Without preparation time after drawing one of the approximately 8 known exam questions.
- Exam registration requirements
To pass the exam it is required that you have participated in one of the large group presentations during the course.
- Aid
- Without aids
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
More internal examiners
- Re-exam
Same as ordinary exam. If the student has not done a group presentation during the course, a new presentation should be given in front of the teacher no later than 2 weeks before the re-exam.
Criteria for exam assesment
See learning outcome
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NFYK16008U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 3
- Schedule
- A
- Course capacity
- No restriction
The number of seats may be reduced in the late registration period
Study board
- Study Board of Physics, Chemistry and Nanoscience
Contracting department
- The Niels Bohr Institute
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Uffe Gråe Jørgensen (uffegj@nbi.ku.dk)