MOOCS Online Learning
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Information on the School of Physics & Astronomy Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS)
In July 2012 the University of Edinburgh joined the Coursera consortium. Coursera offers short online courses (MOOCs) from top universities and in a range of subjects, all entirely free of charge.
The School of Physics & Astronomy offers the following MOOCS.
Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
This introductory course is for anyone with an interest in understanding the fascinating field of astrobiology.
Topics include: what is life and how did it evolve on earth? What are the prospects for life on other planetary bodies and how do we go about searching for it? How might humans deal with contact with an extra-terrestrial intelligence?
AstroTech: The Science and Technology behind Astronomical Discovery
This is an entry-level course where you’ll learn more about the science and technology behind astronomical discovery.
How do stars burn and how do black holes form? Where do the elements come from and how is the expanding universe accelerating? These are just some of the questions addressed by modern astronomy discoveries. But how were these discoveries made?
The Discovery of the Higgs Boson
In this course students will find out more about the Higgs Boson, particle physics, and understanding the universe.
Topics will include: the theory of matter and light; QED to QCD and the weak force; the Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism; and the Standard Model.