Shaw-IAU Workshops by the OAE

The search for life beyond Earth is a compelling quest of modern science. Astrobiology appeals to a wide audience, including those who might not otherwise be engaged with science. It is just one subfield of astronomy but it has connections to geology, chemistry, biology, and even sociology. This interdisciplinary context creates both challenges and opportunities for educators. For non-science students, “Life in the Universe” is popular as a follow-up to an introductory astronomy course. Examples of teaching materials are given, with an emphasis on classroom demos, small group activities, and pedagogy that promotes engagement and active learning.

About Chris Impey

Chris Impey is a University Distinguished Professor of Astronomy at the University of Arizona. He has 450 publications on education, observational cosmology, and quasars, and his research has been supported by $20 million in NASA and NSF grants. He has won eleven teaching awards and has taught four online classes with 420,000 enrolled and 8 million minutes of video lectures watched. Chris Impey is a past Vice President of the American Astronomical Society and he has won its Education Prize. He’s also been NSF Distinguished Teaching Scholar, Carnegie Council’s Arizona Professor of the Year, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor. He has written 120 popular articles on cosmology and astrobiology and 11 popular science books.