eLearnAfrica
Habitability
FutureLearn
  • Start Date: 27 Sep, 2021
  • 3 weeks
  • Study Content: Videos


Learn what makes the Earth so special, and why ‘habitable’ doesn’t always mean ‘inhabited’.

Course Fee: Free
Certificate Cost: See Fees and Eligibility
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Course Description

This course is made available through the eLearnAfrica and FutureLearn partnership.

Journey to alien worlds here on Earth


Discover the fascinating life that thrives in places humans can’t survive, from the Atacama desert in Chile to Lake Vostok under the ice of Antarctica.


On this three-week course, Dr Louisa Preston will guide you through what these environments have in common with other planets, how life can survive various harsh conditions, and whether that means we could see life on other planets too.


If Earth can sustain life, then why can’t other planets? Or can they?


Habitability all depends on who or what needs to inhabit, and just one small change to an environment can remove any prospect of maintaining life.


You’ll start here on Earth by examining how our planet has managed to maintain its habitability while other planets have not.


Then you’ll take a trip into outer space to classify different galaxies in the Universe and discuss the circumstellar habitable zone (CHZ), the zone around a star where liquid water can be stable on the surface, and thus maintain life.


Explore the wonders of life on Earth


The Earth is made up of a myriad of systems, all perfectly balanced to support life. From its atmosphere to its plate tectonics and even the moon being just the right size and distance, each of Earth’s systems works together to help life thrive.


This course will guide you through these systems, how they work together, and their roles in sustaining life on Earth.


Goldilocks and the water bears


The Earth can be a strange place, with even stranger creatures. They may not be extraterrestrial, but some organisms can appear extremely alien.


You’ll finish this course by meeting the extremophiles: organisms that live in seemingly inhospitable environments. You’ll even focus on the famous tardigrade (aka the water bear) which can survive multiple extremes and are all-but-indestructible.


This course is designed for anyone interested in the fundamentals of astrobiology, particularly habitats and habitability on Earth and on other planets.


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.

You may be able to download course materials after enrolling in this course. If not, all of the necessary course materials provided by the course instructor will be available on the provider's course page.
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

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VIOLATIONS

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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