This course introduces fundamental biosystems principles and concepts, emphasizing organisms and their environments. Students will examine physical, chemical and biological properties of ecosystems necessary to sustain life. Topics include: climate cycles; weather conditions; Earth’s atmosphere; thermal radiation; pressure; photosynthesis; effects of the stars, moons and other celestial objects; Coriolis forces; greenhouse gases; and other human influences. 

This course focuses on conservation principles of resource management for sustainable space settlement. Students will consider characteristics of natural resources and processes through which they are developed and utilized; emerging technologies to convert waste for useful purposes; energy conversion strategies; soil and water conservation; methods and techniques for reduction, recycling and reusing biomass, waste and other hazards. 

Independent study courses are student initiated projects, open to Kepler Space Institute students, which allow students to work one-on-one with a faculty member. The student and supervising faculty member will develop a learning plan for the semester within the first week of term. Enrollment is limited.