Life in the Cosmos

PTYS/ASTR/GEOS 214 Life in the Cosmos is part of the Building Connections Curriculum within the University's General Education program, holding both World Cultures & Societies and Quantitative Reasoning attributes. This course explores the origins and evolution of life on Earth and examines the possibility of life existing elsewhere in the Universe. It integrates diverse fields such as planetary science,
biology, neuroscience, consciousness studies, and cultural studies, promoting quantitative reasoning and the ability to make interdisciplinary connections.

This assignment involves the design of an astrobiology mission of exploration. This assignment has both an individual and a group component. For the individual component, each student will develop, articulate, and investigate their own Key Question related to the history of life on Earth or the search for life elsewhere in the Universe. Students will then collaborate to develop a mission concept that addresses all their collective Key Questions. Each team provides Mission Status Reports on their progress four times throughout the semester. These reports will include written, graphical, and video components. Individual contributions are assessed through summaries submitted at each reporting milestone. Each student will also submit a Mission Individual Contribution Summary at each Mission Status Report deadline. These reports and the Final Mission Report are graded to determine the Quantitative Reasoning Signature Assignment fraction of the grade, which is 30% of the course grade.

Assignment Outline

• Mission Design - Target and Key Question Selection
• Team Mission Status Report #1
  • Video Report
  • Written and Illustrated Report
  • Individual Contribution Summary
• Team Mission Status Report #2
  • Video Report
  • Written and Illustrated Report
  • Individual Contribution Summary
• Team Mission Status - Final Report
  • Final Video Report
  • Final Written and Illustrated Report
  • Final Individual Contribution Summary

Click here to view the Full assignment instructions

The Quantitative Reasoning Signature Assignment intends to foster critical thinking and interdisciplinary integration, aligning with the Quantitative Reasoning and World Cultures & Societies attributes of the Building Connections Curriculum. It challenges students to apply scientific inquiry and quantitative analysis while considering astrobiology's societal and cultural dimensions. By working on mission designs, students enhance their understanding of planetary science and its implications while building practical data analysis and collaboration skills.

Framing the Assignment in Class: The assignment is framed as a central component of the course, with students actively engaging in mission design from an interdisciplinary perspective. Through regular mission reports and feedback, students refine their projects over time. In-class discussions further support students in connecting course content with their individual research questions and collaborative team efforts.

Encouraging Perspective-Taking: A key component of this assignment is that it encourages students to reflect on their own cultural, experiential, and personal beliefs about the course's broader questions. Several key question assignments specifically ask students to reflect on their perspectives regarding life in the Universe, the meaning of such discoveries, and how different cultures and societies approach these existential questions. This reflection fosters self-awareness and promotes understanding of individual and collective cultural norms and worldviews.

Best Practices: This assignment draws on best practices such as project-based learning, active engagement, and formative assessment. By combining individual reflection and collaborative teamwork, students can take ownership of their education while contributing meaningfully to a group project. Frequent feedback through mission reports and individual summaries allows continuous improvement and engagement with the material. Additionally, incorporating cultural reflection encourages students to integrate personal experiences with academic
content.