Latest Module Specifications
Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026
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Description This module will give students a thorough understanding of the history of the Earth and our Solar System. In particular it will focus on how the Earth and life have co-evolved and how we search for the existence of life and its influences on other planetary bodies. Students will be introduced to the formation of Earth and the geological history of its 4.56 billion year existence. They will learn about key events in Earth history, gleaned from the geological record, that have affected the origin and evolution of life – and vice versa. This will include major changes in the Earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere and changes in climatic conditions that followed. Students will also learn how other planetary bodies in our Solar System evolved and discover the potential that life may have existed or currently exists on these bodies. They will gain insight into the state-of-the-art techniques used to search for biosignatures from throughout the geological history of the Earth and those that are sent on space missions aimed at extra-terrestrial life detection. These will include remote sensing techniques such as telescope and satellite hosted imaging and spectroscopy, as well as field work in remote locations on Earth and the use of probes and rover missions on other planetary bodies. Students will be exposed to the cutting edge of these fields and as such will learn to critique the various approaches employed and question their relevance, as well as discussing and suggesting potential alternative hypotheses and methodologies. Upon completion of the module, students will have gained an understanding of the fundamental concepts of Earth history, the origin and evolution of life, the co-evolution of life and our planet, the potential habitability of our Solar System, and the cutting edge approach to the search for life elsewhere in our Solar System. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Learning Outcomes 1. Describe the formation of the Earth and our Solar System 2. Examine the 4.56 billion year geological history of the Earth, including analysing connections between major geological and biological events and changes in climatic conditions 3. Understand the methodology used to investigate the geological history of the Earth 4. Evaluate our current knowledge of how life emerged on Earth 5. Examine the habitability of other planetary bodies in our Solar System 6. Critique the state-of-the-art approaches to biosignature detection on Earth and other planetary bodies including remote sensing and in situ techniques 7. Explain how analogue environments on Earth are used to inform our search for extraterrestrial life 8. Understand how fieldwork is performed in extreme environments to study the Earth and other planetary bodies and design a fieldwork campaign 9. Critique recent journal articles across the fields of Earth and Space Science | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml
Indicative Content and Learning Activities
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Indicative Reading List | Books:
Articles:
Other Resources | None
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