SGBK20009U Stardust to Planets: Building a Habitable Solar System

Volume 2024/2025
Education

MSc Programme in Geology-Geoscience - restricted elective

Content

The Solar System’s formation, from first solids to planetary accretion and differentiation, will be explored using radiogenic isotopes as chronometers and isotope tracers. We will examine the radiogenic isotope records of Earth, the Moon and Mars as well as our diverse collection of meteorites to understand the temporal and spatial events that resulted in a habitable planet.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

The course will provide students with the theoretical and practical knowledge about radiogenic isotopes and their use in terrestrial and planetary geology in the context of early Solar System evolution.

Skills:

Acquisition and Manipulation of radiogenic isotope data including the calculation of ages and their use as tracers of geological and planetary processes and reservoirs.
 
Competences:

Recognize the potential use of radiogenic isotopes to address questions in Earth and planetary geology. Design scientific projects that use radiogenic isotopes as a primary tool. Read and critically assess scientific papers that include radiogenic isotope data.

Knowledge of basic concepts of geology is recommended.

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
Two weekly three-hour lecture/​tutorial/​discussions with one weekly three-hour practical session. Formal lectures will be combined with practical exercises that will be worked on during the practical segments. Tutorials will also include discussion of assigned papers from peer-reviewed literature. Throughout the course, students will work on a literature review paper on a topic of their choice that will result in a paper submitted at the end of the course.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 48
  • Preparation
  • 134
  • Practical exercises
  • 24
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Collective
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Continuous assessment
Oral examination, 30 minutes
Type of assessment details
Oral examination worth 50% of the total grade. There is no preparation time for the oral exam. Weekly assignments worth 50% of the total grade.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
One internal censor
Re-exam

Oral examination worth 50% of the total grade. There is no preparation time for the oral exam. The same weekly assignments are handed in again in the reexamination week and count 50 % of the total grade. This is also the case at the third attempt.

Criteria for exam assesment

See Learning Outcome