Planetary Science and Life in the Universe University of Cambridge

Overview

The Planetary Science and Life in the Universe from the University of Cambridge equips students with the academic knowledge and excellent skills in managing complex interdisciplinary projects involving:

• Societal demand for multi-domain expertise to tackle the challenges posed by observing and modelling complex systems;

• The need to train postgraduate students with high levels of interdisciplinary fluency and team working skills;

• A demand for highly trained research scientists able to drive data analysis on feature-rich sets of data from diverse sources;

• The development of students’ expertise in the techniques used to study planets, from the Earth’s deepest past, the solar system planets, to exoplanets;

• The working knowledge of the structure of life, its essential physical- chemical requirements, and its impacts on planetary environments;

• Essential practical experience in running a research project in an interdisciplinary team; and,

The capacity in modern data handling techniques and an awareness of the wide range of academic and industrial applications of these skills.

By the end of the programme, students will have:

Knowledge and understanding:

K1. A knowledge of the key scientific concepts in Earth Science, Physics, Chemistry and Biology that contribute to planetary Science and Life in the Universe.

K2. A clear understanding of methods and techniques to discover and characterize planets, exoplanets, and their biospheres.

K3. The ability to critically evaluate scientific tools and methodologies for their application in Planetary Science and Life in the Universe.

K4. Demonstrated originality in tackling and solving problems and acted autonomously in the planning and implementation of research.

Skills and other attributes:

S1. Collaborative and organizational skills via projects management, including a team- based research project.

S2. The ability to communicate their work clearly, both orally and in writing.

S3. An awareness of the wide range of academic and industrial applications of being skilled at assimilating feature rich datasets to solve complex problems.

Transferrable skills training is delivered through the three group-based projects running over the year: these provide a unique opportunity for students to gain experience of leadership, collaboration, and written and oral communication.