Other links:
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Ashoka University’s undergraduate course curriculum is taught across three semesters: Spring, Summer and Monsoon (Fall). Courses are broadly divided into three categories – Foundation Courses (core curriculum), Major & Minor Courses and Co-Curricular Courses.
You may search courses offered at Ashoka here. Please use the drop down menu to choose the specific semester and subject to see the full list of courses under each department. Foundation courses are offered in all semesters and do not have prerequisites. Offerings in other categories differ in each semester. Some higher level major/minor courses may have prerequisites.
To view Summer Semester Courses-2024: Click here
The Planet Earth: Its status in the Universe, potential threats and the ultimate fate
A formidable combination of astronomical and geological conditions has made it possible for the Earth to harbour life on it. But there are many catastrophic events in the space that may destroy life, even the planet which in the vast cosmic arena appears as a mote of dust suspended in a beam of sunlight and floating in the vast emptiness of space. Search for extra-terrestrial life has taught us an important lesson that our world, mother Earth is an extremely rare place in our galaxy and possibly the only planet that has the required astrophysical and geological conditions for harbouring life. Even if there are other planets similar to the Earth wherein life may exist, the number of such planets in the vast galaxy is extremely small and so we are alone at least within a radius of few hundreds of light years. This course will unfold the fact that our home, the planet Earth is so special yet so vulnerable, so crowded yet so lonely, so common yet so unique, so insignificant yet so great!
The following topics will be covered in the whole course:
(i) Our address in the Universe, the hierarchy in the structure of the visible Universe – super clusters of galaxies, clusters of galaxies, galaxies, the Milky Way Galaxy, stars: the building blocks of galaxies, The Sun and the Solar System.
(ii) Birth of the Sun and its planets including the Earth. A brief history of the solar planets
(iii) We are made of star dust – the origin of heavy elements including carbon the building block of organic molecules.
(iv) Life is a puzzle: Definition of life- its main functions: Metabolism, replication and evolution by natural selection. Origin of life on the Earth.
(v) Evolution of life in a changing Earth – the first, second and the third atmosphere of the Earth, formation of the Oceans, Continents and forest. The ecological system.
(vi) The potential threats to the Earth – Astronomical, Geological and Man-made threats. Extinction of life in the past.
(vii) The natural protection for life – The extremely rare combination of astronomical and geological coincidences that has enabled life on the Earth to survive and evolve.
(viii) Are we alone? Search for extra-terrestrial biosignature and techno-signature.
(ix) The evolution of the Sun – from a faint young star to a red giant and a changing environment of the Earth – from habitable to uninhabitable planet.
(x) The death of the Sun and the fate of its planets.
