Hiroshima University Syllabus

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Japanese
Academic Year 2024Year School/Graduate School Liberal Arts Education Program
Lecture Code 63400101 Subject Classification Area Courses
Subject Name 地球と生物[旧パッケージ]
Subject Name
(Katakana)
チキュウトセイブツ
Subject Name in
English
Earth and Life
Instructor OZAWA HISASHI
Instructor
(Katakana)
オザワ ヒサシ
Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year,  First Semester,  2Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms (2T) Mon1-4:IAS K210
Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details)
 
Lecture-oriented format, PowerPoint will be used. 
Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week   Language of Instruction J : Japanese
Course Level 1 : Undergraduate Introductory
Course Area(Area) 25 : Science and Technology
Course Area(Discipline) 03 : Natural Environment
Eligible Students Undergraduate students
Keywords Earth, climate, life, energy 
Special Subject for Teacher Education   Special Subject  
Class Status within
Liberal Arts Education
Area Courses(Courses in Natural Sciences) Category:Natural Environment / Civil Infrastructure
*Students who got admitted in 2018 or after can take this course as an “Area Course”. For this group of students, credits from this course will be regarded as credits from an “Area Course”.
If students who got admitted in 2017 or before take this course, it is regarded as a “Package-Based Subject”. The latter group of students cannot take this course as an “Area Course”. 
Expected Outcome1. To learn the formation and evolution processes of the Earth and living systems.
2. To learn the concept for a general understanding of the whole natural phenomena. 
Class Objectives
/Class Outline
To learn characteristics of the Earth's climate and living systems from an open-system thermodynamic viewpoint, and realize their roles in the energy flux between the Sun and outer space.  
Class Schedule    ・Introduction (1)
Part 1. Climate of the Earth (2-6)  
   ・Electromagnetic radiation  
   ・Global radiation balance  
   ・Vertical temperature distribution
   ・Latitudinal radiation balance and heat transport
   ・Entropy production due to heat transport
Part 2. What is life? (7-12)  
   ・Schlödinger's idea  
   ・Prigogine's dissipative structure
   ・Life and death  
   ・Biological evolution and dissipative structure
   ・Climate and biological systems
Part 3. The Earth system including the biosphere (13-15)  
   ・Photosynthetic energy conversion and fossil fuels  
   ・Co-evolution of life and climate: Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis  
   ・Summary
 
Text/Reference
Books,etc.
References:
a) Schrodinger, E. "What is Life?", Cambridge Univ. Press, 1944.
b) Lovelock, J. "The Ages of Gaia", Oxford Univ. Press, 1988.
c) 杉本大一郎「エントロピー入門:地球・情報・社会への適用」中公新書 774, 1985.
 
PC or AV used in
Class,etc.
 
(More Details) PowerPoint and converted PDF files. 
Learning techniques to be incorporated  
Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review
Read the provided PDF files carefully together with the reference texts (a, b, c).  
Requirements  
Grading Method Your grade will be evaluated based on the following:
i) Final examination and/or final report (70%),
ii) Class participation and assignments (30%).
 
Practical Experience  
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it  
Message Let us be inspired by the "living Earth". 
Other https://home.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/hozawa/ 
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching. 
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