3 ECTS credits
75 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4023675FNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.
1. Introduction to cosmochemistry: definition, meteorites, stars, solar system abundances, isotopes and nuclear physics, space exploration, extraterrestrial life, relationship to other disciplines.
2. The Solar System and cosmic abundances: nuclides and elements as the building blocks of matter and life, origin of the elements, the Big Bang model, nucleosynthesis in stars, origin of the galaxy and galactic chemical evolution, elemental abundances in the Sun and in meteorites.
3. Meteorites as records of nebular and planetary processes: formation of the solar system, accretion (dust to planetary embryos), classification of meteorites, link to asteroids and comets, impact events and chronology of planetary surfaces.
4. Cosmochemical and geochemical fractionation: condensation, volatile element depletion, igneous processes, physical fractionation, oxidation/reduction, planetary differentiation, isotopic fractionation.
5. Chronology of the Solar System: Early Solar system, age of the Earth, the Moon and Mars, shock ages and impact histories, cosmic-ray exposure ages, terrestrial ages.
Lectures complemented with presentations by invited speakers, seminars/group discussions focusing on “hot topics” using relevant literature. The thematic can vary from year to year.
English lecture notes consisting of the slides presented during the lectures and relevant research literature will be made available via the CANVAS platforms at VUB.
Keywords: Solar System, extraterrestrial materials, isotopes and nuclear physics, space exploration, stellar nucleosynthesis, nebular and planetary processes, asteroids and comets, impact events, condensation and fractionation, planetary differentiation, radiometric dating, chronology, planet formation.
Level: Master of Science in Chemistry or Geology
- The students are capable of situating the research field of cosmochemistry, within its current-day interdisciplinary context,
- The students are familiar with the materials studied and the current state-of-the-art analytical techniques applied in cosmochemistry,
- The students can identify relevant research questions related to the field of cosmochemistry and have notions of the present-day possibilities and limitations of cosmochemistry,
- The students are aware of the relevance of cosmochemistry and space exploration to the society and can situate Earth within a dynamic Solar System and galaxy.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Report on selected research topic (30%), student participation/preparation during group discussion (10%) and oral examination after student presentation of a current-day research paper (50%). In the case of the latter, the content and format (structure, lay-out, timing, presentation skills, etc.) of the presentation as well as the quality of the answers and relevance to the course material are taken into account. Following the presentation, specific questions on topics seen during the theoretical classes need to be answered in an adequate manner by referring to the basic concepts of the course material and applying these to concrete scientific problems/questions.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Chemistry: Analytical and Environmental Chemistry