Foundations of Science

Using modern, student-centered, active and collaborative learning techniques, students will engage — through field observations, in-class experiments, computer simulations, and selected readings — with a range of ideas and techniques designed to integrate and anchor scientific habits of mind. Throughout the term, each student will satisfy a detailed set of rubrics by documenting their learning in reflective e-portfolio postings designed to serve as a future reference for how they, individually, went from not understanding an idea to understanding it. Topics covered will include statistics, basic probability, a variety of calculations skills, graph reading and estimation, all aimed at elucidating such concepts as energy, matter, cells, and genes in the context of astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, neuroscience, and physics.

• F 10:10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Instructor: Statia H Luszcz-Cook
  Info
• 4 points

UNIVERSAL TIMEKEEPER

• MW 8:40 a.m.-9:55 a.m.
• Instructor: David J Helfand
  CULPA: 40 Info
• 3 points

EARTH, MOON, AND PLANETS

Prerequisites: recommended preparation: a working knowledge of high school algebra. The overall architecture of the solar system. Motions of the celestial sphere. Time and the calendar. Major planets, the earth-moon system, minor planets, comets. Life in the solar system and beyond. This course is similar to ASTR BC 1753. You cannot enroll in both courses and receive credit for both.

• TR 1:10 p.m.-2:25 p.m.
• Instructor: James H Applegate
  CULPA: 44 Info
• 3 points

ANOTHER EARTH

This course will explore the unique properties of Earth, compared to other planets in the Solar System, and the possibility of Earth-like planets around other stars. The basics of the Solar System, gravity, and light will be covered, as well as the geology and atmospheres of the terrestrial planets. The properties of Earth that allowed life to develop and whether life can develop on other planets will be discussed. Finally, the discovery of planets beyond our Solar System and the likelihood of another Earth will be a key component of the course.

• TR 10:10 a.m.-11:25 a.m.
• Instructor: David Kipping
  CULPA: 4 h-index: 44 Info
• 3 points

INTRO TO ASTROPHYSICS I

Prerequisites: a working knowledge of calculus. Corequisites: a course in calculus-based general physics. First term of a two-term calculus-based introduction to astronomy and astrophysics. Topics include the physics of stellar interiors, stellar atmospheres and spectral classifications, stellar energy generation and nucleosynthesis, supernovae, neutron stars, white dwarfs, and interacting binary stars.

• MW 1:10 p.m.-2:25 p.m.
• Instructor: Lorenzo Sironi
  h-index: 39 Info
• 3 points

FRONTIERS OF ASTROPHYSICS

Several members of the faculty each offer a brief series of talks providing context for a current research topic in the field and then present results of their ongoing research. Opportunities for future student research collaboration are offered. Grading is Pass/Fail.

• F 10:10 a.m.-11:25 a.m.
• Instructor: Greg Bryan
  CULPA: 4 h-index: 70 Info
• 1 points

GALAXIES

Prerequisites: one year of calculus-based general physics. Galaxies fill the universe with structure. They are bound objects that harbor stars, gas, dust and dark matter. This course will discuss the content and structure of galaxies. It will start with the Milky Way, a rotating spiral galaxy, with a particular emphasis on the properties of the interstellar medium. Dwarf galaxies, the building blocks of larger galaxies, will subsequently be discussed, followed by spiral, elliptical and irregular galaxies. The formation and evolution of these different galaxy types will be an important focus of the course, as well as the environment in which the galaxies reside. We will intersperse reviews of current papers on galaxies throughout the semester.

• TR 10:10 a.m.-11:25 a.m.
• Instructor: Frederik Paerels
  CULPA: 21 Info
• 3 points

EXTRASOLAR PLANETS & ASTROBIOL

• MW 10:10 a.m.-11:25 a.m.
• Instructor: Caleb Scharf
  CULPA: 8 Wikipedia h-index: 36 Info
• 3 points

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission. For an independent research project or independent study, a brief description of the proposed project or reading, with the supervising faculty member's endorsement, is required for registration. A variety of research projects conducted under the supervision of members of the faculty. Observational, theoretical, and experimental work in galactic and extragalactic astronomy and cosmology. The topic and scope of the work must be arranged with a faculty member in advance; a written paper describing the results of the project is required at its completion (note that a two-term project can be designed such that the grade YC is given after the first term). Senior majors in astronomy or astrophysics wishing to do a senior thesis should make arrangements in May of their junior year and sign up for a total of 6 points over their final two terms. Both a substantial written document and an oral presentation of thesis results are required.

• Instructor: Frederik Paerels
  CULPA: 21 Info
• 3 points

GALAXIES

• TR 8:40 a.m.-9:55 a.m.
• Instructor: Kathryn V Johnston
  CULPA: 4 h-index: 54 Info
• 3 points

GRADUATE SEMINAR

• TR 3 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Mary Putman
  CULPA: 3 h-index: 54 Info
• 3 points

RESEARCH SEMINAR I

• Instructor: Jacqueline Van Gorkom
  CULPA: 18 Wikipedia Info
• 3 points