PHYS 1080 Intelligent Life in the Universe

Spring 2016 Instructor(s): Andrea Halling

Tonya B. Triplett Office Hours: SER 234 Tuesday and Thursday 3:00-4:15 or by appointment. Class: ESLC 130 4:30-5:45 Tue/Thur Contact: andrea.halling@aggiemail.usu.edu

tonya.triplett@usu.edu Text: Life in the Universe, USU special Edition by Bennett and Shostak. Text is available

at USU Bookstore. Other versions may also be acceptable, please inquire. A personal response system is also required (I-Clicker).

Lab Fee: Students were assessed a $10 laboratory fee that is used for upkeep of observatory

and demonstration equipment. This should have been paid at registration. Goal: The most profound questions of the human experience will be asked, and in some

cases answered. How and why did our existence become possible? Are these conditions necessary for life in general? Could we find life elsewhere in the universe? Where should we look? This course will take a critical look at how science evaluates questions and where the search for life is today.

Students with Disabilities: Students with ADA-Documented physical, sensory, emotional or medical impairments may be eligible for reasonable accommodations. Veterans may also be eligible for services. All accommodations are coordinated through the Disability Resource Center (DRC) in Room 101 of the University Inn, (435)797-2444. Please contact the DRC as early in the semester as possible. Alternate format materials (Braille, large print or digital) are available with advance notice. If a disability will prevent you from using a telescope at the observatory, please make arrangements for alternative assignments. Honor Code: The honor code will be strictly enforced in this course. Any suspected violations of the honor code will be promptly reported to the honor system. For more information please visit: http://www.usu.edu/policies/PDF/Acad-Integrity.pdf Supplemental Instruction: An Undergraduate Teaching Fellow (UTF) has been assigned to this class. The UTF will be holding weekly review sessions.

Grading: Your final grade will be determined as follows:

4 Tests 60% Observation 5% Quizzes 10% Media Project 15% Classroom Points 10% Total 100% Tests: will be in class and closed book, closed notes. The format will be multiple choice. Please bring a #2 pencil. Scantron forms will be provided. Final: will be Thursday, May 5 3:30-5:20 in ESLC 130. It will NOT be comprehensive, and will be worth the same as the other three tests. Observation: You must attend the physics department observatory during the semester. The TAs there will provide a form for you to fill out and operate the telescopes. The visit is worth 5% of the grade and due date is shown on the schedule. The observatory will open after Spring Break and will be open Monday-Thursday nights when the skies are clear. Hours vary since it must be dark. Call before trying to attend at 797-2942. Do not leave a message! Quizzes: These points can be earned by taking Canvas quizzes. Quizzes will be given on line corresponding to each chapter of the text. Carefully check the schedule as these cannot be made up. You will be allowed to drop you lowest 4 scores. Media Project: Hollywood has provided many examples of possible results of an alien encounter. During the semester you will watch 3 movies from many possible choices on reserve at the Library or on your own. You will then complete a written evaluation of the question of life explored by the movie. The questions that appear are available on Canvas for you to print in advance if you wish. The essay question is intended to be an evaluation of what you have learned during the semester regarding that topic and will be graded as such. Please select from the choices given as substitutions are complicated. Classroom Points: We will use a personal response system (i-clicker) in class as instant feedback on knowledge. Grading will be structured to give points first for participation, then for getting some of them correct. These points can only be obtained during class and cannot be made up. You will need your i-clicker to answer. A typical day will be scored 4 points for answering 75% of the questions posed, then up to 3 more points for getting 3 or more of those questions right. No score will be given on the first 2 days of class or on test days. You may drop your lowest 5 scores. Grade Scale: Grades will be given based upon weighting as shown above and according to the following percentage scale:

A 95.0-100% A- 90.0-94.9% B+ 87.0-89.9% B 84.0-86.9% B- 80.0-83.9% C+ 77.0-79.9%

C 74.0-76.9% C- 70.0-73.9% D+ 67.0-69.9% D 60.0-66.9% F <60.0%

Course Schedule. This schedule is tentative and may change to meet course goals. Date Note CH Material Covered Jan12 1 1/3 Course Information, Tour of Universe 14 2 1 A Universe of Life? 19 3 2 Ancient Astronomy 21 4 2 Scientific Method and Astrobiology 26 5 3 History of the Universe 28 6 3 Worlds, Matter and Energy Feb 2 7 1-3 Exam 1 4 8 4 Earth’s History 9 9 4 Earth’s Geology and Atmosphere 11 10 5 What is Life? Cells and Metabolism 16 No Class/Monday Class Schedule 18 11 5 Metabolism, Heredity, Life at the Extreme 23 12 6 Origin of Life, Early Evolution and Oxygen 25 13 6 Oxygen, Diversity, Extinction, Human Evolution Mar 1 14 4-6 Exam 2 3 15 7 Requirements for Life, Exploration MEDIA PROJECT OVERVIEW IN

CLASS TODAY 7-11 Spring Break 15 16 7 Exploring the solar system and a biological tour 17 17 8 Mars 22 18 8 Mars -Searching for life, Meteorites, Ongoing Exploration 24 19 9 Life on Jovian Moons 29 20 9 Jovian Moons Continued 31 21 10 Habitability factors Present and Future Apr 5 22 10 Venus and Global Warming 7 23 7-10 Exam 3 12 24 11 The Search for Habitable Worlds 14 25 11 Rare Earth MEDIA PROJECT DUE TODAY (midnight, on line) 19 26 12 Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence 21 27 12 Aliens and UFO’s 26 28 13 Interstellar travel OBSERVATION DUE TODAY (in class) 28 29 13 Fermi Paradox May 5 30 11-13 Thursday Final Exam 3:30-5:20

Observatory on roof of SER building. Use Northwest entrance to SER building and take elevator to roof. Phone 797-2942

Observatory as viewed from the Business Building

OBS