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Prospective Students

GUC25S1132C | Our Universe

About the lecturer

Jia Liu () is a computational and observational cosmologist. She is an associate professor at the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU) at the University of Tokyo and the director of the newly established Center for Data-Driven Discovery (CD3) at Kavli IPMU. Jia received her PhD from Columbia University in 2016 and was an NSF postdoctoral fellow at Princeton (2016–2019) as well as a BCCP postdoctoral fellow at UC Berkeley (2019–2021). Her research focuses on the large-scale structures of our universe—dark matter, halos, filaments, and voids. She aims to elucidate fundamental physics, such as inflation, the nature of dark energy, and neutrino mass, by combining cosmological observations of the cosmic microwave background and galaxies with state-of-the-art numerical simulations.

 

Assoc. Prof. Jia LIU

Introduction video

Our Universe

Syllabus

1 Subject Our Universe
2 Field Astrophysics
3 Key words Universe; the Big bang; Dark matter; Dark energy; Galaxies; Stars; Black holes; Planets, Programming; Statistics
4 Global Unit 1
5 Lecturer Jia LIU
6 Period June 16 - 20, 2025
7 Time 13:00-14:30, 15:00-16:30 (Japan Standard Time)
8 Lecture style In-person (on Hongo Campus)
9 Evaluation Criteria Excellent (S) 90–100£¥; Very good (A) 80–89£¥; Good (B) 70–79%; Pass (C) 60–69%; Fail (D) 0–59£¥
10 Evaluation methods Attendance/Participation: 30%
In-class work: 40%
Final Presentation: 30%
11 Prerequisites 1. Curiosity and interest in science!
2. Basic mathematics: algebra and trigonometry; calculus is helpful but not required.
3. Introductory level physics: familiarity with Newton's laws, basic mechanics, and energy concepts.
4. Programming will be taught in the class but prior knowledge is not required.
5. Laptop is required.
12 Contents Purpose
This course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the universe and its components, exploring topics such as the Big Bang, dark matter, dark energy, galaxies, stars, black holes, and planets. Students will gain an understanding of the methods scientists use to study the cosmos, including scientific measurements, programming, and statistical analysis. Through these lectures, the course aims to foster curiosity about the universe, develop critical thinking, and equip students with essential skills for scientific research.

Description
This course is a broad exploration of the universe, designed to engage students in understanding its origins, components, and the methods scientists use to study it. The course will be conducted fully in person, with an interactive and collaborative learning environment. It will combine lectures, group discussions, in-class work, and group presentations.
 
Lectures will introduce key topics, including the Big Bang, dark matter, dark energy, galaxies, stars, black holes, and planets, alongside tools like scientific measurements, programming, and statistics. These sessions will serve as the foundation for group discussions, where students can delve deeper into concepts, ask questions, and share ideas with peers. In-class work will include problem-solving activities and practical exercises in scientific programming and data analysis, helping students develop valuable skills in interpreting scientific data. Group presentations will encourage teamwork and allow students to explore specific topics in greater depth, fostering creativity and communication skills.

Schedule
Lecture 1: The Big Bang and a Brief History of the Universe
Cosmic timeline, cosmic microwave background, redshift, large-scale structures.
Form 6 groups of 3-4 students each, to work together throughout the course, including the final presentations.

Lecture 2: Scientific Measurements
Experimental design, data collection methods, and measurement accuracy and precision.

Lecture 3: Dark Matter
What is dark matter? Evidence from galaxy rotation curves and gravitational lensing. The role of dark matter in galaxy formation and cosmic structure.

Lecture 4: Dark Energy
Discovery of dark energy and its role in the universe's accelerated expansion.

Lecture 5: Scientific Programming
Introduction to programming and machine learning.

Lecture 6: Stars and Galaxies
Stellar formation and lifecycle. Types and structures of galaxies: spiral, elliptical, and irregular. Galactic evolution and collisions.

Lecture 7: Black Holes and Gravitational Waves
Formation of black holes, event horizons, accretion disks, Hawking radiation, and gravitational waves.

Lecture 8: Statistics
Probability, distributions, and hypothesis testing.

Lecture 9: Planets
Formation and classification of planets in our solar system and beyond. Exoplanets and the search for life outside of Earth.

Lecture 10: Final Presentations
Each group will present a 10-minute presentation on a topic of their interest (including but not limited to the topics covered in the lectures).

Assignments
In the last lecture, each group will present a 10-minute presentation on a topic of their interest (including but not limited to the topics covered in the lectures).
13 Required readings Power of Ten (1977)
14 Reference readings A brief history of time (Stephen Hawking)
15 Notes on Taking the Course -
´ºÓêÖ±²¥app Global Unit Courses (GUC)
International Education Promotion Group, Education and Student Support Department
´ºÓêÖ±²¥app, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8652 JAPAN

For inquiries regarding GUC, kindly direct them to the following email address:
utokyo-guc.adm(at)gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp *Please change (at) to @
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