• Basic Structure

  This interdisciplinary introductory course focuses on the subject of Life in the Universe. We will study historical astronomy, gravitation and planetary orbits, the discoveries of extrasolar planets, the origin of the chemical elements, the origin of life on Earth, the evolution and exploration of the Solar System, global climate change on Venus, Mars and Earth, the Search for Earthlike planets, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life (SETI).

• Office Hours

  • Tues 4:15-5:30 and Thurs 12:30-1:30 PM in Altschul 514 at Barnard
  • lk157@columbia.edu

• Communications

  • Communications about the class, office hours, homeworks, quizzes etc will be by email
  • Outlines of class lectures, and homeworks, will be posted on Canvas/Courseworks.

• Lectures

  • T TH 2:40-3:55
  • This is a live class, attendence is expected, (especially for quizzes and in-class activities)
  • if you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get the material from a classmate

• Textbook

  • This is an Interdisciplinary course so no textbook is perfect, with either choice you will need to use classnotes for some material.
  • It is strongly recommended that you have access to one of these books (in these editions).
  • You do not need access codes to online HW
  • Copies on Reserve at the Barnard library
  • Life in the Universe, 5e , by Bennett et al, 2022
  • This has more on Biology than we cover in class, but fewer worked math examples and little historical astronomy
  • OR
  • 21c Astronomy, 6e by Kay, Palen, and Blumenthal, 2019.
  • This is available used, as an ebook or a rental, and is in the FLI library.
  • This has little Biology but more history, & Physics & can be used for a second course in Astronomy

• Distribution Requirements

  • ASTR BC 1753 satisfies the Barnard Science SCI and Thinking Quantitatively requirements and can be used towards the Columbia College science requirement.
  • ASTR BC 1753 along with the 1 point lab course Astr UN1903 can be applied towards the Barnard lab science LAB requirement.

• Learning Goals - Students who successfully complete this course will:

  • understand how scientists are studying the question of Life in the Universe
  • understand how Earth is habitable in ways the rest of the Solar System is not
  • learn about the discoveries of other planets in our Galaxy
  • learn to think critically and quantitatively about some contemporary scientific problems

• Labs

  • Students who want laboratory credit should get on the waitlist for the one point course ASTR UN1903.
  • Labs meet in the evenings, there are sections on M and W, and will begin on Jan 23.
  • Its OK to take the lab in a future semester

• Teaching Assistants

  • The TAs for this class are Michael Messere and James Sullivan. Office Hours in Pupin 1332, Mon 12-1, (James) and Weds 1:30-2:30 (Michael)

• Homework:

  • Problem sets will be due at classtime (paper or posted TBD)
  • Late HW will NOT be accepted after the solutions are posted- the rest of the class needs them to study for quizzes!
  • Students may work with other students together on the homework, but the writeups submitted must be individual work in individual words, not duplicated/copied and pasted.
  • HW is required; you cannot pass this course by exam grades alone.
  • The lowest HW score (including one not submitted for any reason) will be dropped; the remaining scores will count for 20% of your final grade.

• In-class projects:

  • These will be in-class collaborative exercises using computer simulations or paper exercises, and will count for 10% of the final grade.

• Quizzes:

  • There will be 4 short quizzes.
  • The lowest score will be dropped; this includes quizzes missed for any reason. Makeup quizzes are not offered. The remaining 3 will count for 15% of your final grade

• Exams:

  • One midterm exam, on Mar 2 and the final is during the scheduled time on THURS MAY 11 from 1-4 PM
  • The midterm exam will count for 20%, and the final exam for 35%.
  If you believe you may encounter barriers to the academic environment due to a documented disability or emerging health challenges, please feel free to contact me and or Disability Services on your campus (CARDS at Barnard, DS at Columbia). Students who need disability-related test or classroom accommodations must be registered in advance with these Services.

TBD