| Week |
Professor |
Topic |
Description |
Reading Assignment |
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1 & 2
1/17-1/26 |
Bernard |
The Cosmos at a Glance |
A brief guide to the universe; Olber's paradox and the Doppler effect; an introduction to electromagnetic waves and elementary particles; a narrative history of the big bang. (Discussion: What is science?) |
- Bernard Lectures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
- Ferris, The Whole Shebang: Preface, Chapters 1, 2, and 3 (pp. 68-69)
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3
1/29-2/2 |
Wysession |
Heat and Gravity |
The creation of the solar system, the formation of the Earth and Moon, and the internal heat-driven motions within the Earth. (Discussion: perceptions of time) |
- Wysession Lectures 1, 2, and 3
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4
2/5-2/9 |
Goodenough |
Principles of Biological Evolution |
A slide presentation will illustrate the macroevolution of animals, followed by a speculations on how life originated and came to acquire its salient features: mutable instructions that are subject to natural selection. |
- Goodenough, The Sacred Depths of Nature: through Chapter 3
- Rue, Everybody's Story: Introduction
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5
2/12-2/16 |
Wysession |
Earth Forces |
Plate tectonics and the formation of continents, mountains, and oceans through plate motions. (Discussion: mythology and geological phenomena) |
- Wysession Lectures 4, 5, and 6
- Officer & Page, Tales of the Earth: through Chapter 4
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6
2/19-2/23 |
Bernard |
Microcosm and Macrocosm |
The four fundamental forces; the formation of galaxies and quasars; the birth of stars; thermonuclear processes; hydrogen and helium "burning" in stars. (Discussion: the "miracles" that make our existence possible; the anthropic principle) |
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7
2/26-3/2 |
Goodenough |
Emergent Properties of Life, I |
Three emergent properties of life -- the ability to regulate the flux of ions and food, the ability to generate and utilize energy sources, and the ability to move -- will be presented in their various manifestations, from single-celled organisms to plants and animals. |
- Goodenough, The Sacred Depths of Nature: Chapters 4, 5, and 6
- Rue, Everybody's Story: Part I
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8
3/5-3/7 |
Bernard |
Stellar Evolution |
Red giants and white dwarfs; creation of heavy elements; supernovae and pulsars. (Discussion: Is science compatible with religion?) |
- Bernard Lectures 9 and 10
- Ferris, The Whole Shebang: Chapters 7 (pp. 170-194 only) and 8 (pp. 204-220 only), "Contrarian Theological Afterward" (pp. 303-312)
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| 3/9 |
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MIDTERM EXAM |
REVIEW: Wed, Mar 7, 8-10pm, Wilson 112 |
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9
3/19-3/23 |
Wysession |
Earth Materials |
The chemistry of rocks and minerals, including the results of melting, freezing, and squeezing rocks. (Discussion: geological effects on the history of civilization) |
- Wysession Lectures 7, 8, and 9
- Officer & Page, Tales of the Earth: Chapters 5 and 6
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10
3/26-3/30 |
Goodenough |
Emergent Properties of Life, II |
Three additional emergent properties of life -- awareness, sexuality, and embryology -- will be tracked during the course of evolution. |
- Goodenough, The Sacred Depths of Nature: Chapters 7, 8, and 9
- Rue, Everybody's Story: Part II
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11
4/2-4/6 |
Bernard |
Curved Space |
Maps and globes; Einstein's General Relativity; black holes; the shape of the universe and how it is determined. (Discussion: our place in the universe) |
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12
4/9-4/13 |
Wysession |
Water |
The shaping of the surface of the Earth through motions of water and ice; erosion, transportation, and deposition of rock; climate. (Discussion: geomorality and environmental issues) |
- Wysession Lectures 10, 11, and 12
- Officer & Page, Tales of the Earth: Chapters 7, 8 and 9
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13
4/16-4/20 |
Goodenough |
Speciation and Human Evolution |
The overall picture of biological evolution by speciation will be followed by a consideration of mammalian, human, and cultural evolution. |
- Goodenough, The Sacred Depths of Nature: rest of book
- Rue, Everybody's Story: rest of book
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14
4/23-4/27 |
Goodenough
Wysession
Bernard |
Review and Speculation |
Goodenough (4/23): Ecology
Wysession (4/25): Any More Earths Out There?
Bernard (4/27): What is the Universe Made of?
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- Wysession Lecture 13
- Bernard Lecture 14
- Ferris, The Whole Shebang: Chapters 5 and 9
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| 5/3 |
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FINAL EXAM
10:30-12:30 |
REVIEW: Tues, May 1, 7-9pm, Rebstock 215 |
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