CHED 1766 |
| A course for non-science majors has been developed that investigates fundamental concepts in chemistry and applies these to investigate current ideas on the chemical origins of life. The course examines environmental conditions of early earth, and ideas on how chemistry and the environment helped set the stage for “proto-life”. Topics discussed include nucleosynthesis, chemical bonding, intermolecular interactions, stereochemistry, energetics, kinetics, self-assembly, structure-function relationships, and an introduction to bio-molecules. These topics connect with questions like: Where did the elements of life come from? Why is water an essential ingredient of life? Why does a carbon-based life offer complexity? What is the role of self-assembly in life? The underlying learning objectives, in addition to fundamental chemical concepts, include understanding (i) the importance of molecular scale interaction, (ii) the role of the environment in supporting these interactions, (iii) how chemistry and the environment can affect macro-scale outcomes (iv) interdisciplinary approaches in sciences, and v) the process of scientific inquiry and the environment of scientific research. The class reads the book “Genesis: The Scientific Quest for Life's Origins” by Robert Hazen which provides an in depth account of the current status of the research in this field. |
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Chemical Evolution, Chemical Change Across Space and Time
9:00 AM-11:55 AM, Thursday, March 29, 2007 McCormick Place North -- Room N227A, Level 2, Oral
Division of Chemical Education |