Astrobiology

Explore Astrobiology and Life in Extreme Environments

 

If there is life beyond our planet, what does it look like? Astrobiologists try to answer that question in part by looking at how organisms have evolved to live in the most extreme environments on Earth. 

We will survey locations on Earth where conditions approach the limits of survival – places like Antarctica’s ancient red waterfall, the deadly Crystal Caves in Mexico and the Challenger Deep. Students will learn about adaptations that allow organisms to live in these harsh environments. They will get an introduction to extremophile microbes such as diatoms, tardigrades and nematodes. We will also look at conditions on some of the potentially habitable planets that astronomers have discovered and consider the potential for past or present life on these planets. Students will design a planet that could sustain life and plan an astrobiology mission to Mars.

What You Will Learn

Gain insight on what extraterrestrial life might look like by learning how organisms have evolved in extreme environments on Earth.

• Learn about the characteristics of potentially habitable planets beyond Earth.
• Explore the conditions that are necessary for life to exist.
• Survey extreme environments on Earth, including the Challenger Deep, polar deserts and Crystal Caves of Mexico.
• Learn about the adaptations that allow life to survive in these extreme places.
• Look at different kinds of extremophile microorganisms.
• Review the history of NASA’s efforts to find extraterrestrial life.
• Design a planet that could sustain life and plan an astrobiology mission to Mars.

Return to the Sally Ride Science Junior Academy website here.

Note: In response to COVID-19 health guidelines, we have restructured our in-person Junior Academy workshops as online courses. Contact us at srs@ucsd.edu if you have questions.

Course Number: SCI-90014
Credit: 1.50 unit(s)

+ Expand All

7/12/2021 - 7/16/2021

$175

Live Online

Add To Cart

• SECTION ID:

  156499

• CLASS TYPE:

  Synchronous web-based class meetings that are scheduled to meet online at published times (time/date).

• INSTRUCTOR:
  

  Zoumplis, Anna

  Anna Zoumplis has had the pleasure of teaching for more than 40 years. Originally from Warsaw, Poland, she is very interested in all things science, math and music. She has a master’s degree in music anthropology. She has also participated in many educational workshops at NASA to learn more about her favorite subject, space!

• TEXTBOOKS:

  No textbook required.

• POLICIES:

  1st meeting mandatory.
  Early enrollment advised.
  No UCSD parking permit required.
  No visitors permitted.
  Pre-enrollment required.
  No refunds after: 7/5/2021.
  

• NOTE:

  Grade Level: 6th-8th Instructor will contact students 24-hours in advance of class with Zoom information. Students have the option of logging on to Zoom from 9-9:30am to have office hours with the instructor. In addition, students have the option of staying on Zoom after class ends from 11am-12pm for additional support. Please note that some courses require supplies. Supply information will be posted here by 4/15/21. We recommend you check back at this point for further details.

DATE	DAY	START	END	LOCATION
7/12/2021	Mon	9:30 a.m.	11:00 a.m.
7/13/2021	Tue	9:30 a.m.	11:00 a.m.
7/14/2021	Wed	9:30 a.m.	11:00 a.m.
7/15/2021	Thu	9:30 a.m.	11:00 a.m.
7/16/2021	Fri	9:30 a.m.	11:00 a.m.

7/12/2021 - 7/16/2021

$175

Live Online

Add To Cart

• SECTION ID:

  156500

• CLASS TYPE:

  Synchronous web-based class meetings that are scheduled to meet online at published times (time/date).

• INSTRUCTOR:
  

  Zoumplis, Anna

  Anna Zoumplis has had the pleasure of teaching for more than 40 years. Originally from Warsaw, Poland, she is very interested in all things science, math and music. She has a master’s degree in music anthropology. She has also participated in many educational workshops at NASA to learn more about her favorite subject, space!

• TEXTBOOKS:

  No textbook required.

• POLICIES:

  1st meeting mandatory.
  Early enrollment advised.
  No UCSD parking permit required.
  No visitors permitted.
  Pre-enrollment required.
  No refunds after: 7/5/2021.
  

• NOTE:

  Grade Level: 9th-12th Instructor will contact students 24-hours in advance of class with Zoom information. Students have the option of logging on to Zoom from 1-1:30pm to have office hours with the instructor. In addition, students have the option of staying on Zoom after class ends from 3-4pm for additional support. Please note that some courses require supplies. Supply information will be posted here by 4/15/21. We recommend you check back at this point for further details.

DATE	DAY	START	END	LOCATION
7/12/2021	Mon	1:30 p.m.	3:00 p.m.
7/13/2021	Tue	1:30 p.m.	3:00 p.m.
7/14/2021	Wed	1:30 p.m.	3:00 p.m.
7/15/2021	Thu	1:30 p.m.	3:00 p.m.
7/16/2021	Fri	1:30 p.m.	3:00 p.m.