Hi, I'm Sarah Maurer and I'm an associate professor
at Central Connecticut State University.
I'll be your instructor for this course.
I am specifically interested in studying protocells and how
you can put living functions into these small little containers.
But also, more generally, prebiotic chemistry,
and early metabolisms, and how you can go from a chemical mixture to first life.
So that transition.
I work predominantly with undergraduate students and
I am supported by both NASA and
the National Science Foundation who are supporting this course as well.
I have been interested in origins of life for a very long time.
In my very first biochemistry course, on the first day,
we talked about the Miller Urey experiment and
it really sparked my imagination and I've been studying origins of life ever since
I am really excited to be your instructor for this course.
This is my first time teaching an online course and
I'm excited to see how our content can reach such a large, diverse population.
And also,
what this brings to your discussions. Both here in our forums but also,
back in your labs, or field sites, or you know even when you go home at the
end of the day when you're talking with your cat.
Alright, I'll see you on the other side.