Exploratory Project: Development of a Case-Study Based Introductory Undergraduate Course on Life in the Universe

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Interdisciplinary (99)Faculty in the sciences continue to seek out courses that will help capture the interest and imagination of students in introductory general education science courses. The course in astrobiology at the PIs institution is doing just this. The course material covers important societal questions like global warming and nuclear weapons proliferation and it poses interesting questions like "Should the federal government invest funds in SETI, the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligences?" and "If an alien has infrared vision, what can you say about the alien's home planet?" Its "case study" approach is novel in the fields of astronomy and physics. This interdisciplinary course, using materials from astronomy, physics, biology, chemistry, planetary science and geology, helps students see the unity and integration in science. Instructional materials from the project are available to the academic community through The National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science.