44921 - Astrobiology

Learning outcomes

Astrobiology is a relatively new science that seeks answers to the origins of life in the Universe. At the end of the course the student, following a multidisciplinary approach, will acquires solid scientific bases of the main topics in astrobiology. The geological conditions of the prebiotic Earth and the conditions for planetary habitability, the peculiarty of the planet Earth and the nature of life, its origin on Earth and its evolutionary history (in the first 1.5 billion years) will be discussed.

Course contents

Module I: What is astrobiology. History of astrobiology and space exploration. Formation of the Earth, Geological time scale. Planetary habitability. Introduction to extreme environments, extremophiles and terrestrial analogues. Several seminars and rounds table on specific topics.

Modulo II: Biosigantures and technics for life detection. Use of different sample preparation and technics (optical microscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray microanalysis and Raman microspectroscopy) for biosignature identification.

Readings/Bibliography

Lectures (pdf) will be available to the students immediately after the lessons, they will also contain suggestions for further readings (e.g. scientific papers) on the covered topics.

Other suggested books:

• Cockell, 2015. Astrobiology: Understanding Life in the Universe. Wiley-Blackwell, 472 pages.
• Cavalazzi & Westall, 2019. Biosignatures for Astrobiology. Springer, 347 pages.

Teaching methods

In presence lessons. Seminars in presence and via TEAMS.

Assessment methods

Written examination. The examination committee will be composed by Barbara Cavalazzi and Roberto Orosei.

Teaching tools

TEAMS rooms for seminars, PC, video projector,

Office hours

See the website of Barbara Cavalazzi