Online ExpertTrack in Science, Engineering & Maths

Life on Mars, Earth and Beyond with Dr Louisa Preston

4.9 (7 reviews)

Discover the fascinating field of astrobiology; study life on earth, space exploration, and how they intersect.

Created by

FutureLearnFutureLearn

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Co-created by

UCL (University College London)UCL (University College London)

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In collaboration with

Dr Louisa PrestonDr Louisa Preston

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Explore the big questions about life, the universe, and the future of humankind

Join astrobiologist Dr Louisa Preston as you explore what it means to be alive in the universe. In this introduction to astrobiology and space science, you’ll deepen your understanding of where we came from, where we are, and where we’re going in the future.

Meet your Expert Educator, Dr Louisa Preston

This ExpertTrack is led by Dr Louisa Preston, an astrobiologist, planetary geologist, author, and UK Space Agency Aurora Research Fellow.

Louisa has studied microbes in some of the most extreme environments on Earth, from the geysers and volcanoes of Iceland to the red acidic rivers of Rio Tinto in Spain.

With her knowledge and expertise in the geological history of Solar System bodies and how life might have evolved on other planets and moons, Louisa is uniquely positioned to guide you through this fascinating ExpertTrack.

Discover the origins of the Earth and life itself

From the beginning of our planet to where we are now, you’ll explore the formation of the Earth, how the many interconnected systems of the Earth work, and the history of the life that survives and thrives here.

Travel into space and determine whether there was ever life on Mars

Discover our neighbouring planet, Mars, the rocky, desert-covered red planet. What’s it made of? Is there water there? Can we live there? You’ll explore the answers to these questions and more.

You’ll also learn about the fascinating research that’s currently happening including the many future missions in the search for life on Mars.

Search for extraterrestrial life outside of our solar system

Outside our solar system lies a vast number of star systems and planets with the potential to cultivate life. On this course, you’ll discover what these exoplanets look like, how we might find them, and the ongoing search for alien life.

Then, you’ll crack the surface of our solar system’s icy moons and explore Europa, Enceladus, and Titan, three moons of our closest gas giants. Dive into the theories of what lies beneath their surfaces and uncover the secrets of what makes Titan so special.

Explore what the future of life looks like on Earth and beyond

Reflecting on what you’ve learned throughout the previous courses, you’ll think about what this all means for human life in the future.

Human civilisation faces a variety of threats to its survival, from climate change to overpopulation. But is there a way that we could move to another planet? And is the colonisation of other worlds essential to the continued survival of humans?

Key skills you will learn

  • Creative problem solving
  • Secondary research
  • Critical thinking
  • Analysing texts and ideas
  • Creating evidence based arguments
  • Creative thinking
  • Developing inquisitiveness

Learning outcomes

By the end of the ExpertTrack, you’ll be able to...

  • Investigate how the earth works and is situated within the universe
  • Compare the Earth with other habitats
  • Explore the interconnectedness between our world and the rest of the universe
  • Reflect on what it means to live in a habitable world
  • Reflect on what it means to live in a habitable world
  • Discuss how to protect the world we live in
  • Analyse and identify key information
  • Develop secondary research skills
  • Experiment with creative aspects of science

Experience required

This ExpertTrack is designed for anyone looking to learn more about the origins of life and the possibilities of colonising other planets. No previous experience or knowledge is needed to benefit from these five courses.

Getting started

This ExpertTrack is suitable for anyone who is interested in the fundamentals of astrobiology, particularly life on Earth and beyond.

It would also be useful for university applicants seeking to identify areas that they’d like to specialise in and STEM teachers looking to bring science to life for their students.

ExpertTrack course overview

  • Course 1

    Learn what makes the Earth so special, and why ‘habitable’ doesn’t always mean ‘inhabited’.

    1 test

    3 weeks

    3 hours per week

    • Week 1

      Habitable vs Habitability
      • Welcome to the course
      • What do we mean by habitability?
      • Galactic habitable zones
      • Maintaining habitability for life
      • Weekly wrap-up
    • Week 2

      What makes Earth so special?
      • Welcome to Week 2
      • The greenhouse effect
      • Plate tectonics
      • The Moon
      • Weekly wrap-up
    • Week 3

      Alien worlds on Earth
      • Welcome to Week 3
      • Uninhabited habitats
      • Extremophiles
      • Planetary analogues
      • Course wrap-up
  • Course 2

    From the beginning to where we are now, explore the formation of the Earth and the history of life on the blue planet.

    1 test

    3 weeks

    3 hours per week

    • Week 1

      The formation of the Earth
      • Welcome to the course
      • From dust to a planet
      • The Late Heavy Bombardment
      • The origins of life on the early Earth
      • Weekly wrap-up
    • Week 2

      How the Earth works
      • Welcome to Week 2
      • What is the Earth made of?
      • The Earth's movements
      • The geological record
      • Weekly wrap-up
    • Week 3

      The history of life
      • Welcome to Week 3
      • The earliest life
      • Multicellular life
      • Mass extinctions
      • Course wrap-up
  • Course 3

    4.9 (7 reviews)

    Discover our neighbouring planet, Mars, and delve into the missions and mysteries surrounding life on the planet.

    1 peer-graded assignment

    3 weeks

    3 hours per week

    • Week 1

      Mars inside and out
      • Welcome to the course
      • Getting to know the Red Planet
      • The geological record on Mars
      • Dating Mars
      • Weekly wrap-up
    • Week 2

      Water
      • Welcome to Week 2
      • Water on Mars
      • Missions to Mars
      • Mars today
      • Weekly wrap-up
    • Week 3

      Searching for life
      • Welcome to Week 3
      • Mars habitability
      • Hunting for life on Mars
      • Follow the carbon
      • Course wrap-up
  • Course 4

    Explore the potential for life on icy moons, what exoplanets look like, and the role biosignatures play in the search for life.

    1 test

    3 weeks

    3 hours per week

    • Week 1

      Icy moons
      • Welcome to the course
      • Europa
      • Enceladus
      • Titan
      • Weekly wrap-up
    • Week 2

      Leaving the Solar System
      • Welcome to Week 2
      • The edges of the Solar System
      • What lies beyond...
      • Star light, star bright
      • Weekly wrap-up
    • Week 3

      Exoplanets
      • Welcome to Week 3
      • The diversity of exoplanets
      • A second Earth
      • Hunting for exoplanets
      • Course wrap-up
  • Course 5

    Explore the threats facing human civilisation on Earth and discover the possible ways that we could colonise other planets.

    1 peer-graded assignment

    3 weeks

    3 hours per week

    • Week 1

      Our civilisation: Rise and threats
      • Welcome to the course
      • Evolution in a cosmic context
      • The evolution of us
      • Threats to a civilisation
      • Weekly wrap-up
    • Week 2

      Colonisation of other worlds
      • Welcome to Week 2
      • A multi-planet species
      • Colonising the Moon
      • Colonising Mars
      • Weekly wrap-up
    • Week 3

      A sustainable future
      • Welcome to Week 3
      • A changing climate
      • Materialistic beings
      • The next step
      • Course wrap-up

Prove you're job ready

Highlight the new, job-relevant skills you’ve gained and supplement existing qualifications with a hard-earned, industry-specific digital certificate – plus one for every course within your ExpertTrack.

  • Learn the latest in your chosen industry or subject.
  • Complete each course and pass assessments.
  • Receive certificates validated by the educating organisation.
  • Impress employers with learning outcomes you can add to your CV.
  • Make your career dreams a reality.

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World-class learning with FutureLearn

FutureLearn is a leading social learning platform and has been providing high quality online courses for learners around the world over the last ten years.

World-class learning with UCL (University College London)

UCL was founded in 1826. It was the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge, and the first to open up university education to those previously excluded from it.

This ExpertTrack is in collaboration with Dr Louisa Preston

Meet your instructor

I am an astrobiologist, geologist, and author at the Natural History Museum in London. I am also on the science team for the European Space Agency ExoMars 2022 Mars rover ‘Rosalind Franklin'.

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ExpertTracks are a series of online courses designed to help you master new skills in specialist areas. You pay a monthly subscription fee which includes access to all courses within the ExpertTrack, as well as assessments and the final digital certificate.

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