Qualification objectives: Students are familiar with the formation and thermo-chemical evolution of planetary bodies in the solar system. They have knowledge of the origin and development of life on Earth and its habitats and are able to assess in which extraterrestrial locations life could form and develop. They can assess what observations and experiments are needed to detect extraterrestrial life or habitable places beyond Earth. They can successfully complete tasks in teams and present the results appropriately.
Contents: Students will gain an overview of the formation and evolution of planets and moons and the framework for life in the universe. They discuss the definition of life and habitability and learn to assess the habitability of a planetary body. They address the origin of life on Earth, the conditions for the evolution of complex organisms, and the evolutionary history of life on Earth and its influence on the environment. They learn methods for detecting extraterrestrial life such as extremophile organisms, biomarkers, and biosignatures.