FutureLearn
- Start Date: 27 Sep, 2021
- 3 weeks
- Study Content: Videos
From the beginning to where we are now, explore the formation of the Earth and the history of life on the blue planet.
Course Fee: Free
Certificate Cost: See Fees and Eligibility
Course Description
This course is made available through the eLearnAfrica and FutureLearn partnership.
Explore the theories on how life on Earth came to be
The mystery of life’s origins on Earth has been slowly chipped away as scientists discover more and more evidence to support their theories.
On this three-week course, astrobiologist Dr Louisa Preston will take you on a trip through the history of Earth, from dust to a planet, exploring the theories and events that shape the story of life.
Travel back to the formation of the Earth and witness the Late Heavy Bombardment
Did life start at the bottom of the ocean? Deep in the Earth’s clay? Or did it come from outer space?
Starting at the beginning, when our blue planet wasn’t so blue, you’ll explore stages of the Earth’s formation and the theories on how life began here. You’ll then look at the implications of the Late Heavy Bombardment, a hypothesised event in which asteroids collided with early terrestrial planets, including Earth.
How can you read the Earth’s timeline?
The geological record of the Earth holds many secrets of the planet’s history. From its past climate to the evolution of life, understanding geological processes is vital to understanding Earth.
You’ll investigate these processes and how they moulded the Earth, giving you a gateway into the way experts read Earth’s timeline. And, using your knowledge of the Earth’s composition and structure, you’ll apply your findings to other planets to better understand their environments.
Discover the journey of life on Earth, from the Cambrian Explosion to mass extinction events
According to some scientists, there have been at least five major extinction events in the Earth’s history.
This course will delve into these extinction-level events to look at how they’ve shaped life on Earth. You’ll also track the Cambrian Explosion, an event when simple life is believed to have diversified and complex organisms started appearing.
This course is designed for anyone interested in the fundamentals of astrobiology, particularly life on Earth.
It will be especially useful to university applicants looking to identify areas that they’d like to specialise in and STEM teachers looking to bring science to life for their students.
Certificate cost may vary. You will be redirected to the host page for cost and payment options.
FutureLearn
This university is part of the partnership between eLearnAfrica and FutureLearn.
This institution is available on eLearnAfrica through partnership with FutureLearn.
COLLABORATION POLICY
By enrolling in a course on or through eLearnAfrica, you are joining a special worldwide community of learners. The aspiration of eLearnAfrica is to provide anyone with an internet connection access to courses from the best universities and institutions in the world and to provide our learners the best educational experience internet technology enables. You are a part of the community that will help eLearnAfrica achieve this goal. eLearnAfrica depends upon your motivation to learn the material and to do so with honesty and academic integrity. In order to participate in eLearnAfrica, you must agree to the Honor Code below and any additional terms specific to a class.
ELEARNAFRICA HONOR CODE PLEDGE
By enrolling in a course, program, or degree hosted on the eLearnAfrica App or Site, I agree that I will:
-
Complete all tests and assignments on my own, unless collaboration on an assignment is explicitly permitted.
-
Maintain only one user account and not let anyone else use my username and/or password.
-
Not engage in any activity that would dishonestly improve my results, or improve or hurt the results of others.
-
Not post answers to problems that are being used to assess student performance.
-
Abide by any and all requirements of the eLearnAfrica Participants as may regard the expectations of civil or academic behavior or of community standards.
VIOLATIONS
If you are found in violation of the Terms and Conditions or Honor Code, you may be subject to one or more of the following actions:
-
Receiving a zero or no credit for an assignment;
-
Having any certificate earned in the course withheld or revoked;
-
Being unenrolled from a course, learning program or degree program; or
-
Termination of your use of the App and/or Site.
-
Additional actions may be taken at the sole discretion of eLearnAfrica and eLearnAfrica course providers.
No refunds will be issued in the case of any corrective action for such violations.
Honor code violations will be determined at the sole discretion of eLearnAfrica, the Partners, or Members. You will be notified if a determination has been made that you have violated this honor code and you will be informed of the corresponding action to be taken as a result of the violation.
CHANGING THE HONOR CODE
Please note that we review and may make changes to this Honor Code from time to time. Any changes to this Honor Code will be effective immediately upon posting on this page, with an updated effective date. By accessing the App and/or Site after any changes have been made, you signify your agreement on a prospective basis to the modified Honor Code and any changes contained therein. Be sure to return to this page periodically to ensure familiarity with the most current version of this Honor Code.
Effective Date: September 22, 2016