Course Information

Butler College, Special Dining Room

Mondays and Wednesdays 3:00-4:20

Professor: Michael A. Strauss

x8-3808
110 Peyton Hall
strauss@astro.princeton.edu

Required Texts:

The Search for Life in the Universe, 3rd Edition (2001)
Donald Goldsmith and Tobias Owen, University Science Books

The Emergence of Life on Earth (2000)
Iris Fry, Rutgers University Press

Click here for other books of related interest, and here for a guide to reading the Fry book.

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There will be five problem sets through the course, as well as two papers and a presentation. Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

• Problem sets, 25%
  
• Paper 1, 10 double-spaced pages, due October 20 (midterm week), 25%
  
• Paper 2, 15 double-spaced pages, due January 11 (Dean's Date), 35%
  
• Class presentation based on one of the two papers, 10%
  
• Class participation (attendance, taking part in discussion, etc) 5%
  

A brief outline for each paper is due roughly 10 days before the paper itself is due, and should be the result of discussions with Prof. Strauss.

Suggested topics for papers.

Reading assignments will be from our two required texts; in addition, I will have additional handouts from time to time.

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I will not keep formal office hours, but (if not otherwise out of town), I can usually be found in my office during the day, and welcome you to drop by. Contact me by e-mail or phone first to set up an appointment, or to make sure I'm in.