Course taught: The Earth in the Universe

What motivates you to teach in the EES major at UCF?

I teach the course “The earth in the Universe”. As an astronomer I want to share the knowledge of how physicists and cosmologists envisage our universe and how our planet Earth is embedded in it. I consider this to be essential philosophical knowledge, and see it as a unique chance to enlighten students. My ambition is not to elaborate on delicate physical problems, but to give an overall understanding of ‘how the world goes round’. How did our view of the world evolve in time, and what makes cosmologists convinced today that it all started with a Big Bang? How did the universe evolve and what was needed to create the Solar System? Physics and Astrophysics have long separated from the field of philosophy, but I want to stress the philosophical aspects of Astrophysics and give insights into how modern astrophysics explains the universe that we are embedded in.

Briefly describe the course you teach at UCF.