The Planetary Science Program at Western

History Four-Year Honors BSc in Honors Astronomy and Geophysics (Planetary Science) Four-Year Honors BSc in Honors Astronomy and Geophysics (Planetary Science) Jointly offered by Earth Sciences and Physics and Astronomy departments for many years at UWO Jointly offered by Earth Sciences and Physics and Astronomy departments for many years at UWO In 2000, Faculty of Science published academic plan with five key themes for research focus: among these Planets and Stars In 2000, Faculty of Science published academic plan with five key themes for research focus: among these Planets and Stars Led to reexamination of Planetary Science (PS) program as educational tool to further the P&S theme Led to reexamination of Planetary Science (PS) program as educational tool to further the P&S theme

Planetary Science Joint Program Beginning in newly revamped Planetary Science undergraduate program to be offered jointly by Earth Science/P&A Beginning in newly revamped Planetary Science undergraduate program to be offered jointly by Earth Science/P&A Emphasis in program is to provide background in Physics or Astronomy or Earth Science using PS as the “flavour” Emphasis in program is to provide background in Physics or Astronomy or Earth Science using PS as the “flavour” Flexibility in course selection allows students to follow their specific interests Flexibility in course selection allows students to follow their specific interests

Planetary Science Program /2 Modules offered (beyond first year courses): Modules offered (beyond first year courses): Minor in PS (4 full courses) Minor in PS (4 full courses) Major in PS (6 full courses) Major in PS (6 full courses) Honors Specilization in PS (9 full courses) Honors Specilization in PS (9 full courses)

PS related undergraduate courses offered (or to be offered in 2004) Genesis of Meteorites and Planetary Materials Genesis of Meteorites and Planetary Materials Introduction to Planetary Atmospheres Introduction to Planetary Atmospheres The Solar System The Solar System Birth, life and Death of Elements, Stars and Planets Birth, life and Death of Elements, Stars and Planets Physics of the Earth Physics of the Earth The Search for Life in the Universe The Search for Life in the Universe Introduction to Planetary Science Introduction to Planetary Science

Long term goals – Graduate PS program Building on a strong undergraduate PS program longer term goal is to offer a graduate PS program Building on a strong undergraduate PS program longer term goal is to offer a graduate PS program Several graduate PS courses already offered: Several graduate PS courses already offered: Planetary Image Interpretation (2004) Planetary Image Interpretation (2004) Water in the Solar System ( ) Water in the Solar System ( ) Atmospheric Physics (-2004) Atmospheric Physics (-2004)

Planetary Science Research Group (PSRG) Promotes interdisciplinary PS-related research at Western Promotes interdisciplinary PS-related research at Western Sponsors lecture series, both research-focused and public: Sponsors lecture series, both research-focused and public: The Search for Life on Mars, by Dr. Christopher P. McKay, March 18, 2004

Shantanu BasuShantanu Basu (P&A)Planetary system formation (star formation) Peter BrownPeter Brown - (P& A)Planetary astronomy / Small bodies in the solar system David EatonDavid Eaton (ES)Geophysics and planetary interiors Roberta FlemmingRoberta Flemming (ES)Mineralogy of meteorites Penny KingPenny King (ES)Geochemistry of planetary materials John LandstreetJohn Landstreet (P&A)Properties of stellar atmospheres David LescinskyDavid Lescinsky (ES)Planetary volcanology Mengua LiuMengua Liu (ES)Cosmochemistry Fred LongstaffeFred Longstaffe (ES)Isotopic geochemistry of planetary materials Howard PlotkinHoward Plotkin (Phil)History of Solar System studies (meteoritics) J-P St. MauriceJ-P St. Maurice (P&A)Planetary atmospheres (middle atmosphere, ionosphere) Rick SeccoRick Secco (ES)Mineral physics and planetary interiors Bob SicaBob Sica (P&A)Planetary atmospheres (middle atmosphere, ionosphere) Gordon SouthamGordon Southam (ES)Astrobiology Phil StookePhil Stooke (G)Mapping of small bodies : Planetary surfaces Planetary Science Research Group Members - UWO

Backup Slides

Planetary Science Minor 4 courses Astro 221a Phys 303b + ES 230b and ES 085 -> 2xxx + Light and matter (P201a) Quantum physics and spectroscopy (P202b) Stars, Galaxies and Cosmology (A202b) Observational/Practical (Planetary) Astronomy (A301a) Introduction to Materials Science (P208) Structural Geology and Plate Tectonics Intro. Mineralogy Petrology Sedimentology and Stratigraphy Physics of the Earth I Quaternary Geology [currently a 4th year level course]?? Four half courses from List 1:

Planetary Science Major 2 PS321a/b + Three half courses from List 1 OR List 2: Physics 326 [Computer simulations in Physics] Physics 343b [Introduction to Statistical Physics] Physics 350a [Classical Mechanics] Physics 351a [Quantum Mechanics I Physics 365a [Electromagnetic Theory I] Astronomy 301a [Observational/Practical Astronomy] Earth Science 240a/b [Catastrophic Events in Earth History] Earth Science 322a [Intro Time Series] Earth Science 3xx [Planetary Materials] Earth Science 421 a/b [Physics of the Earth II] Earth Science 424b [Advanced Mineral Physics] Geog 208 a/b [Weather and Climate] Geog 307 a/b [Remote Sensing]

Planetary Science Specialization 3 courses P FCE from any senior level (i.e. requiring a prerequisite) courses in the Faculty of Science