ASP1022

Life and the universe

(SCI)

Dr John Lattanzio (Department of Mathematics and Statistics)

6 points + Three 1-hour lectures and one 2-hour laboratory class per week + Second semester + Clayton + Prerequisites: Secondary science to Year 11 and mathematics to Year 12 (recommended)

Synopsis: The characteristics of life, how life first appeared on the earth, whether these conditions can be expected to occur on other planets, the formation of stars and planets, the dynamics of planetary orbits and the habitable zones around stars, different kinds of stars and the light they emit, whether consciousness arises from elementary interactions between atoms and molecules, whether computers can be said to be conscious, the final state of the universe and the implications for any life present.

Assessment: Examination (3 hours): 60% + Tutorials: 30% + Project work: 10%