Our modern understanding of the universe is the end product of centuries of scientific discoveries by many individuals around the world. Whilst most have been forgotten, some stand out like shining stars. What was their profound scientific contribution? Why were they able to make breakthrough? Over ten weeks the course will look at the life and work of the life and work of the following individuals Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543) Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) Isaac Newton (1643–1727) Henrietta Swann Leavitt (1868–1921) Albert Einstein (1879-1955) Edwin Hubble (1899–1953) Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (1910-1995) Vera Rubin (1928-2016) Stephen Hawking (1942-2018) Jocelyn Bell (1943 – )
Course aim
The story of how science provided an understanding of the universe through the lives and work of ten historical figures.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Appreciate the principle of the scientific method.
- To describe at least two key scientific discoveries that underpin the Big Bang model of the universe.
- Acknowledge the evolving nature of our understanding of the cosmos.
- Appreciate the key aspects of profound discoveries on the road to understanding the universe and some of the individuals who made them.
- Become familiar with authoritative online sources on cosmology.
What else do I need to know?
This is an online course delivered online via Zoom. There are no prerequisites assessment, just a deep sense curiosity and desire to understand.
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