2022 Faculty Courses School of Science Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Graduate major in Earth-Life Science
Earth-Life Science C
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Earth-Life Science
- Instructor(s)
- Shigeru Ida / Hidenori Genda / John William Hernlund / Hiroyuki Kurokawa
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Tue (石川台７号館(ELSI-1), 三島ホール) / 3-4 Fri (石川台７号館(ELSI-1), 三島ホール)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- ELS.C403
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2022
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
The basic ideas of the surface environments and interior structure of the present-day Earth are explained. Earth's formation/evolution as a planet in Solar system is also explained via formation models of Solar system. Solar system explorations and exoplanet observations are also explained.
Course description and aims
Understanding the Earth as a site of emergence of life to discuss relations to origins of life on the Earth. Extrapolating these understanding to discuss possible life in satellites and Mars in Solar system and in exoplanets.
Keywords
Structure/evolution of Earth, Mars, Icy satellites, Solar system formation, exoplanetary systems, origins of life
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
- Acquiring knowledge and skills to discuss relations between planet/satellites and life in our Solar system and exoplanetary systems understanding to discuss possible life in satellites and Mars in Solar system and in exoplanets.
Class flow
Lectures and small group discussions
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | The present-day Earth (from core to atmosphere) | The present-day Earth (from core to atmosphere) |
| Class 2 | Earth's formation in Solar system | Earth's formation in Solar system |
| Class 3 | Earth's history | Earth's history |
| Class 4 | Earth's Moon, Mars, icy satellites | Earth's Moon, Mars, icy satellites |
| Class 5 | Planetary structure equations: from the core to the atmosphere | Planetary structure equations: from the core to the atmosphere |
| Class 6 | Planetary atmosphere | Planetary atmosphere |
| Class 7 | Climate evolution, volatile cycling, and biogeochemcal cycling | Climate evolution, volatile cycling, and biogeochemcal cycling |
| Class 8 | Stellar evolution | Stellar evolution |
| Class 9 | Planet formation | Planet formation |
| Class 10 | Satellite formation | Satellite formation |
| Class 11 | Solar system explorations | Solar system explorations |
| Class 12 | Exoplanet observations | Exoplanet observations |
| Class 13 | Water delivery to Earth | Water delivery to Earth |
| Class 14 | Origins of organic materials | Origins of organic materials |
Study advice (preparation and review)
Reading text books with other students
Textbook(s)
NA
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Geodynamics, D. Turcotte & G. Shubert
Young Sun, Early Earth and the Origins of Life, M. Gargaud et al.
Astrophysics of planet formation, P. Armitage
Atmospheric Evolution on Inhabited and Lifeless Worlds, David C. Catling & James F. Kasting.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Small reports
Related courses
- ELS.C401 ： Earth-Life Science A
- ELS.C402 ： Earth-Life Science B
Prerequisites
Deep interests in the Earth, life on the Earths and that in universe