Here are instructions for signing up on the "Blackboard" website.

Required Reading List:

Handouts from Prof. Basri on spacetime, rockets, and interstellar travel.
 

COSM  by Gregory Benford, EOS 1998, ISBN 0-380-79052-1
        (read by Feb. 11)
A "daughter Universe" is accidentally created in a lab, and taken away by the experimenter (who then observes it). Others try to get it back (when they figure out what has happened). Good description of how modern science works.

EARTH by David Brin, Bantam 1991, ISBN 0-553-29024-X
        (read by March 11)
A mini-black hole is created, then lost into the Earth. Another one is discovered to have already been placed inside. Gravity is controlled to try to fix things, but also used as a weapon. Ecologies are collapsing. A planet-wide computer network gains consciousness. Lots of intrigue.

EATER by Gregory Benford, EOS 2000, ISBN 0-380-79056-4
        (read by April 8)
An intelligent black hole comes to the Solar System and decides to stay for a while. It wants to "collect" some humans (and its motives prove ever darker). Humanity begins to rebel, but finds out how powerful control of electromagnetism and gravity can be.
 

Course Requirements:

Come every week and participate actively in the discussion.

Participate in the online forum on our website.

Do any assigned reading by the assigned date.

Write a 5-10 page paper on one of the 3 novels above. These will be posted for the class to discuss. You may select one scientific and one other (sociological, political, cultural, etc) aspect of each book to concentrate on (no plot summary needed). About a third of the class will do each one (and the order is as above). You will also choose a book of your own relevant to the topic this semester, and write a 10-15 page paper on it (including 2-4 pages of plot synopsis).