Name | Prof. Dr. Sascha Patrick Quanz |
Field | Exoplanets and Habitability |
Address | Inst. f. Teilchen- und Astrophysik ETH Zürich, HIT J 31.8 Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 27 8093 Zürich SWITZERLAND |
Telephone | +41 44 633 28 30 |
quanzs@phys.ethz.ch | |
URL | https://quanz-group.ethz.ch/people/person-detail.MTY1MzQ3.TGlzdC8zNDM1LDM4MTg3MjY0MQ==.html |
Department | Physics |
Relationship | Full Professor |
Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
402-0351-00L | Astronomy | 2 credits | 2V | S. P. Quanz | |
Abstract | An overview of important topics in modern astronomy: planets, sun, stars, milky way, galaxies, and cosmology | ||||
Learning objective | This lecture gives a general introduction to main topics in modern astronomy. The lecture provides a basis for the more advanced lectures in astrophysics. | ||||
Content | Planeten, Sonne, Sterne, Milchstrasse, Galaxien und Kosmologie. | ||||
Lecture notes | Kopien der Präsentationen werde zur Verfügung gestellt. | ||||
Literature | Der Neue Kosmos. A. Unsöld, B. Baschek, Springer Oder sonstige Grundlehrbücher zur Astronomie. | ||||
402-0368-07L | Lecture Series: Space Research and Exploration | 1 credit | 2V | S. P. Quanz | |
Abstract | Lecture Series about topics of space research and exploration consisting of individual talks giving by different leading experts from industry and academia. | ||||
Learning objective | Attending students will • experience the interdisciplinarity of space research and exploration spanning physics, engineering, geosciences, biology and more • be familiarized with the Swiss space research and industry sector • improve their communication skills by broadening their research horizon • have the opportunity for direct learning by posing questions to experts | ||||
Content | The field of space research and exploration is intrinsically interdisciplinary. Cutting edge space activities are dominated by an interplay between the scientifically desirable and the technologically possible. The ‘Lecture Series: Space Research and Exploration’ aims to shed light on key questions engaged by leading scientists and engineers today. It consists of weekly lecture, given by different speakers with vast experience in their respective field (e.g., Human Spaceflight, System Engineering of Spacecraft, Space Life Sciences, Space-based astrophysics). Subsequent to the talk, the student will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding by asking questions to the presenter in a moderated Q&A. Confirmed speakers include: 21.09.: Prof. Sascha P. Quanz (ETH Zürich); Professor for Exoplanets 28.09.: Dr. Anna Kubik (ETH Zürich); Senior Scientist for Orbital Dynamics 12.10.: Dr. Andrea Fortier (University of Bern); CHEOPS Instrument Scientist 19.10.: Prof. Volker Gass (EPFL Lausanne); Director of Space Innovation 26.10.: Dr. Hendrik Kolvenbach (ETH Zürich); Postdoctoral Researcher for Space Robotics 02.11.: Deborah Müller (RUAG Space); Director of Innovation & Business Development 16.11. & 21.12.: Prof. Claude Nicollier (EPFL Lausanne); Professor Emeritus, EPFL and former Astronaut 23.11.: Dr. Adrian Glauser (ETH Zürich); Senior Scientist for Astronomical Instrumentation 30.11.: Prof. Louise Harra (ETH Zürich); Professor of Solar Astrophysics 17.12.: Prof. Didier Queloz (ETH Zürich / Cambridge); Professor for Exoplanets | ||||
402-0368-11L | Earth - A (Unique?) Habitable Planet | 6 credits | 2V + 1U | S. P. Quanz | |
Abstract | While thousands of extrasolar planets are known to orbit stars other than the Sun, Earth is - until now - the only planet known to be habitable. This lecture takes an interdisciplinary view on Earth as a habitable planet, how it formed, evolved, allowed life to flourish, and how its future might look like. Would we be able to identify another Earth-like planet amongst the population of exoplanets? | ||||
Learning objective | Attending students will • understand Earth place in the cosmos • learn tools to discern the history of Earth and other planets • explore the origin and co-evolution of Earth and life • put Earth in context with extrasolar planets | ||||
Content | This lecture focuses on our home planet - Earth - from an interdisciplinary perspective. As the search for habitable - and potentially even inhabited - extrasolar planets is one of the most dynamic research fields in modern astrophysics, understanding what makes a planet habitable is a topic of increasing importance; and a highly interdisciplinary topic. In broad brushes, this lecture will discuss the building blocks of planetary systems and their formation, how we can learn about the history of Earth and other planets, what major epochs we can identify over the course of Earth’s 4.5 billion year history, when life arose on Earth and what impact it had on Earth’s evolution, how the future Earth might look like, and - last but certainly not least - how we can search for an Earth-like planet in our cosmic neighbourhood and what our chances are to be successful. |