For more detailed course information click here.
Dr. Stefanie Brachfeld, 253 Mallory, 973-655-5129
Earth & Enviromental Science, 973-655-4448,
Office Hrs: M 11:30-12:30, M 4-5, and by appointment
(Office Hours for October: M 11:30-12:30, T 1:30-2:30 and by appointment)
e-mail: brachfelds@mail.montclair.edu,
www.csam.montclair.edu/earth/eesweb/brachfeld/Brachfeld_home.html
Dr. Judy Shillcock, 124 Science Hall, 973-655-7172
Biology & Molecular Biology, 973-655-4397,
Office Hrs: TR 11:15-12:15, F 9-10, and by appointment
e-mail: shillcockj@mail.montclair.edu
Dr. Mary Lou West, 244 Richardson, 973-655-7266
Mathematical Sciences/Physics, 973-655-5132,
Office Hrs: T 1:30-2:30, W 11:30-12:30, R 4-5 and by appointment
e-mail: westm@mail.montclair.edu,
www.csam.montclair.edu/~west
Meetings: TR 2:30-3:45 in the Sokol Room in Science Hall until Oct 7, then in University Hall 1050,
Labs M 1-3 or M 3:15-5:15 in SH-210
Textbook: "Life in the Universe" by J. Bennett, S. Shostak, 2nd Edition, 2007
| Week | Monday, Professor | Monday Lab | Topic and Readings |
| 1 | R, Sept 4, Brachfeld, Shillcock, West | -- | The scientific method, Ch.2.3-2.5, What is life? |
| LIFE | |||
| 2 | Sept 8, Shillcock | Introduction to Research Projects (1:00 Shillcock and West; 3:15 Brachfield and West) | Life and membranes, Ch.5 and handouts |
| 3 | Sept 15, Shillcock | #1 Procaryotes | Structure and function of procaryotic cells, Ch. 5-6 and handouts |
| 4 | Sept 22, Shillcock | #2 Antibiotic Sensitivity | Structure and function of eucaryotic cells; Origin of eucaryotic cells, viruses, and prions, Ch.5-6 and handouts |
| Saturday Sept 27, Field trip to Jenny Jump State Park and Astronomical Observatory | |||
| 5 | Sept 29, Shillcock | #3 Eucaryotes | Biology of Evolution, Ch. 6, Test 1, Thursday, Oct 2 |
| EARTH'S FEATURES | |||
| 6 | Oct 6, Brachfeld | #4 Minerals and rocks | Geologic time, how do we know what happened when? What kinds of samples can and cannot be dated?, Ch. 3-5 and journal article 1 |
| 7 | Oct 13, Brachfeld | #5 Fossil Record I | Physical conditions on the early Earth; earliest evidence of life on Earth; direct remains vs. circumstantial evidence, Ch. 3-5 and journal article 2 |
| 8 | Oct 20, Brachfeld | #6 Fossil Record II | Three billion years of simple life, then a sudden "Cambrian Explosion" of diversity. What happened?, Snowball Earth, life and climate, Ch. 3-5 and journal article 3 |
| 9 | Oct 27, Brachfeld | NO LAB (substitute field trip on Sept 27) | Boom and bust. What allows a new organism to thrive? What cauases mass extinctions? Test 2 on Thursday Oct. 30 |
| OTHER BODIES FOR LIFE | |||
| 10 | Nov 3, West | Research update (bring all of your data and materials to lab) | The Solar System, Ch. 7 |
| 11 | Nov 10, West | #7 Cratering | Mars, Ch. 8 |
| 12 | Nov 17, West | #8 Global Warming | Moons of Jupiter, Habitability, Ch. 9, 10.1 |
| 13 | Nov 24, West | #9 Exoplanets | Other solar systems, Ch. 11, THANKSGIVING BREAK |
| 14 | Dec 1, West | Practice research presentations, Research paper due Monday Dec 1 |
SETI, Ch. 12, Test 3, Thursday, Dec 4 |
| 15 | Dec 8, Brachfeld, Shillcock, West | #10 Detection of procaryotic cells on environmental surfaces | Review on Tuesday, Messages, group research reports on Thursday and Friday, 12/11 and 12/12 |
Friday, Dec 12, 1:00-3:00 PM, continuation of group research presentations in UH-1050
Dates may change due to unforseen circumstances. Changes will be announced, and it is the responsibility of the student to keep informed. Please check blackboard.montclair.edu regularly.
Course requirements: three tests (October 2, October 30, December 4), 10 lab reports, field trip report, 2000-word paper on research project (due November 21, occasional exercises. Attendance at all laboratory sessions and the September 27 field trip is mandatory, however, the lowest lab grade will be dropped.
Your course grade will be made up of 19% Test 1, 19% Test 2, 19% Test 3, 20% lab reports and class participation, 3% field trip and report, 20% paper and oral report on the research project.
This page is www.csam.montclair.edu/~west/honscioutline.html.