Wrath of Heaven: Asteroids and Their Impacts



Overview

This five-session course examines the distribution, properties, origin and importance of asteroids in the development of the solar system and the history of life on planet Earth.

Elements of astronomy, planetary science, geology, palaeontology and archaeology are examined to come to a better understanding of both the well-known destructive results of asteroid impacts, as well as the lesser known benefits in terms of spreading organic compounds, minerals and water through the solar system.

Asteroid involvement in two of Earth's largest mass extinctions at the end of the Permian (252 Mya) and Cretaceous periods (65 Mya) will be studied in order to better understand the impact on the biosphere, along with other geological factors such as contemporary volcanism.

Both risks and benefits of asteroids to the future of humanity are examined, in terms of preparedness for future impacts as well as the potential for mining and space exploration.

Programme details

Course begins: 26 Sept 2023

Week 1: Asteroids, Comets, Meteors and Meteorites 

Week 2: Large impact structures on Earth and in the solar system 

Week 3: The Great Dying: Earth’s worst mass extinction at the end of the Permian period, 252 million years ago. 

Week 4: The Dinosaur-killer at the end of the Cretaceous period, 66 million years ago.

Week 5: Holocene impacts, Earth defence and future exploration.

Certification

Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £140.00
Take this course for CATS points £10.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Dr Suman Chowdhury

Dr Suman Chowdhury holds a doctorate in geophysics from the University of Oxford, and has broad expertise in ground and space based remote sensing methods. His field experience includes the geophysical  survey of the Chicxulub asteroid impact crater in Mexico.

Dr Chowdhury is a Fellow of both the Geological Society and the Royal Astronomical Society.

Course aims

To provide a conceptual and descriptive understanding of the distribution, properties, origin and importance of asteroids in the development of the solar system and the history of life on planet Earth, as well as to the future of humanity.

Course objectives:

  • To provide a basic knowledge of the the distribution, properties, origin and importance of asteroids in the development of the solar system and the history of life on planet Earth.
  • To provide a basic knowledge of the distribution and frequency of large impacts through looking at the distribution of impact structures throughout the solar system as well as on Earth.
  • To provide a basic understanding of mass extinctions during the history of life on Earth, through detailed examination of the two largest recorded mass extinctions with asteroid impact hypotheses. To understand the scientific process in examing the strengths and weaknesses of these hypotheses.
  • To provide a basic knowledge and understanding of impacts that have affected humanity, and efforts being made to warn of or to prevent future impacts.
  • To provide an introductory understanding of the potential use of asteroids in future space exploration and resource mining.

Teaching methods

  • Presentations on Microsoft Powerpoint.
  • Practical demonstrations.
  • Use of video presentations.
  • Use of white board.
  • Class or group discussions/activities.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

  • be able to describe the the distribution, properties, origin and importance of asteroids in the development of the solar system and the history of life on planet Earth;
  • be able to describe and discuss the factors affecting the distribution and frequency of large impacts throughout the solar system;
  • demonstrate a basic understanding of the role of mass extinctions in Earth history; 
  • describe in more detail the two largest recorded mass extinctions, and the strengths and weaknesses of their associated asteroid impact hypotheses;
  • be able to describe impacts that have affected humanity, and thecurrent efforts being made to warn of or prevent future impacts;
  • demonstrate awareness of the potential use of asteroids in future space exploration and resource mining.

Assessment methods

All students taking the course are expected to complete the following coursework:

five assignments comprised of short questions designed to reinforce the concepts presented in class. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

Application

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form (Word) or enrolment form (Pdf).

Level and demands

The course will cover the basic material and references will be provided for further reading. Books and articles are expected to be available at local libraries, at the Dept for Continuing Education Library at Rewley House, or online. Students may also purchase books for self-study.

Assignment questions are designed to reinforce taught concepts, and will not include mathematical problems at this level.

Most of the Department's weekly classes have 10 or 20 CATS points assigned to them. 10 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of ten 2-hour sessions. 20 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of twenty 2-hour sessions. It is expected that, for every 2 hours of tuition you are given, you will engage in eight hours of private study.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support