Mini-symposium "Deep life across time and space"
Swedish Museum of Natural History, Lilla Hörsalen
28 November 2019
Deep
biosphere research is at the scientific frontier of bio and geo related sciences, yet it is largely
underexplored In terms of volume, deep subsurface settings represent some of the largest microbial
habitats on the planet, and the combined biomass of the deep biosphere encompass the largest living
reservoir of carbon, excluding land plants However, before plants colonized land 400 Ma), the deep
biosphere outweighed the surface biosphere by about one order of magnitude, providing a new
“ perspective on the history of life on Earth Paradoxically, the paleo record of the deep
biosphere is still largely uncharted and neglected The aim of this meeting is to highlight current
research of deep life through time and bring together researchers from various disciplines The scope
of the meeting will bridge paleobiology, geochemistry, geobiology, microbiology and astrobiology
Deciphering the fossil record of the deep biosphere is a challenging task, but when successful, will
unlock doors to life`s cryptic past.
The symposium is organised by the Stockholm University Astrobiology Centre. Information can be found in the flyer of the event.
Conference: "Impacts and their Role in the Evolution of Life"
Tällberg, Siljan Crater Area, Sweden, 10 - 13 June 2019
The aim of this meeting is to bring together leading researchers from different backgrounds (geologists, geophysicists, astronomers, geochemists, evolutionary biologists, and other researchers with an interest in impact studies) to discuss the influence that impact has had on the evolution of our planet and, possibly, on the emergence of life as well as to exchange recent advances in impact science regarding both terrestrial and planetary impacts. The following themes will be covered by the conference:
- Impacts, the Early History of the Solar System and the Formation of the Moon
- Late Accretion and Delivery of Volatiles to the (early) Earth
- Impacts and their role in the evolution of planets
- Identification and Exploration of Impact Features
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Impacts of Micrometeorites
- Ecological and Climatic Consequences of Impacts
- Impacts as Threats for Life and Humankind
- Impact Craters and Impact Hydrothermal Systems as Habitats for Life
- Impacts as Subjects for Science Education and Outreach
Thanks to funding by Europlanet there will be up to 10 bursaries for students and early career scientists whose first Ph.D. in a subject related to the conference theme has been later than 31 March 2011. Recipients of these bursaries will be invited to give a talk and receive free accommodation in single rooms at Hotel Dalecarlia, free meals (breakfasts, lunches, coffee breaks and dinners) as well as free participation in the excursion.>
Information can be found at the website: http://www.nordicastrobiology.net/Impacts2019
Conference for Early Career Astrobiologists "The Early History of Planetary systems and habitable planets"
Tartu, Estonia, 8 - 10 August 2017
The Astrobiology early career scientists conference "The Early History of Planetary systems and habitable planets" will be hosted in Tartu, Estonia. The event will start on the morning of August 8th and finishes in August 10th in the evening.
The meeting targets all related aspects of the subject. A broad range of contributions on formation and early development of planetary systems and particularly the habitable planets is expected, with links to other fields covered by astrobiology. The main (but by no means exclusive) themes of the conference are:
- Formation of protoplanetary disks and planetary systems
- Early History of Earth and other planets
- Impacts and their role in the evolution of planets
- Formation and evolution of planet and satellite atmospheres
- Co-evolution of Earth's geosphere and biosphere and the evolution of life
- Habitability and factors influencing it
- Life in extreme environments and its possible role in the evolution of life on Earth
- The quest for habitable extrasolar planets: detection and characterisation
- New aspects of planetary evolution
A large number of bursaries is available for students and early career scientists (up to 8 years after their Ph.D) covering meals and accommodation during the entire meeting (evening August 7th, to morning August 11th). Deadline for registration is 29th June 2017. Information can be found at the website: https://sisu.ut.ee/eac/home-0
Conference "Geoscience for understanding habitability in the solar system"
Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, Furnas, Azores, 25 - 29 September 2017
The conference "Geoscience for understanding habitability in the solar system and beyond"will be held from 25 to 29 September 2017 at the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, Furnas, Azores, Portugal. The meeting will start on 25 September in the morning and finish on 29 September at lunchtime. The conference functions as an EGU Galileo meeting and is co-organized by the COST action "Origins and Evolution of Life on Earth and in the Universe", the Nordic Network of Astrobiology, and the Belgian Planet Topers project. It is co-chaired by Prof. Veronique Dehant (Royal Observatory of Belgium) and by Prof. Wolf Geppert (Stockholm University Astrobiology Centre).
The conference will be held at the Hotel Terra Nostra Garden****. The hotel is a newly renovated Art Deco hotel with a very good restaurant and a large, famous botanical garden. The João Paulo Airport with frequent direct flights to the European mainland is located only 45 km from the venue. See the Conference website for details. The deadline for registration and abstract submission is 15 June 2017.
Summer school "Impacts and their Role in the Evolution of Life on Earth"
Kuressaare, Saaremaa, Estonia, 25 July - 3 August 2017
The course "Impacts and their Role in the Evolution of Life" will take place from 25 July to 3 August 2017 at Kuressaare and the Kaali impact crater site on the island of Saaremaa, Estonia. It aims to give students a thorough introduction in the role of meteorite and comets impacts in the formation of Earth, its atmosphere and the evolution of life. The course consists of lectures, pratical exercises and student-led discussions. Participants will also have the possibility to display their own research results in two poster sessions.The Stockholm University Astrobiology Centre, the University of Tartu, the European Astrobiology Campus, and the Nordic Network of Astrobiology will function as co-organisers of the course and the following subjects will be covered by the lectures:
- Roles of impacts in the formation of habitable planets
- Physical and chemical properties of comets and meteorites
- Detection and investigation of impact craters by geological methods and remote sensing from space
- Ecological consequences of impacts and the role of impacts in mass extinctions
- Transfer of life through meteorite impacts
- Threat of life on our planet by near-Earth asteroids and comets
The lecture programme will be complemented by practical exercises concerning:
- Electromagnetic mapping of impact sites
- Analysis of pollen indicators of the Kaali impact event.
- Microscopy of impactites
- Georadar profiling at Kaali
Participants will also have the possibility to display their own research results in two poster sessions. Furthermore, excursions to geologically interesting sites like the Panga cliffs.
See the summer school website for details. The deadline for application is 30 April 2017 23:59:00 UTC.
Yearly Meeting "From star and planet formatio to early life"
Vilnius, 25 - 28 April 2016
The meeting will cover a multitude of scientific subjects ranging from star and planet formation until the early evolution of life on Earth. It aims to bring together astronomers, physicists, chemists, geologists and biologists as well as academics and students from humanities to discuss the most important questions and newest findings in all related disciplines. Special sessions will be devoted to comets, meteorites, prebiotic chemistry and early life.
The conference constitutes the yearly meeting of the COST Action "Origins and evolution of Life in the Universe" and the Nordic Network of Astrobiology and will take place from 25 to 28 April 2016 at the Art Nouveau style Hotel Artis Centrum in the historical city centre of Vilnius (UNESCO World Hertiage Site). For further information about the event, access the relevant webpages in the menu bar above.
Conference organisers are Prof. Gražina Tautvaišienė (Vilnius University) and Prof. Wolf Geppert (Stockholm University).
Further information can e found on the website of the conference. Summer school "Biosignatures and the Search For Life on Mars"
Iceland 4 - 16 July 2016
The summer school "Biosignatures and the Search For Life on Mars", which will be held in Iceland from 4 to 16 July 2016, aims to cover the subject of the search for life in different environments, both on early Earth, below Earth's surface and on Mars. It will bring together students and researchers from a multitude of different fields. It is co-organised by the Nordic Network of Astrobiology, the European Astrobiology Campus, and the EU COST Action "Origins and Evolution of Life on Earth and in the Universe". Field studies on the colonisation of lava fields and Mars analogue landscapes will complement the lectures. The programme of the summer school comprises:
- lectures by internationally leading scientists covering a broad range of subjects in astrobiology
- investigation of colonisation of fresh lava fields and Mars analogue landscapes with in situ life detection techniques
- excursions to geologically and astrobiologically interesting sites (lava caves, new lava fields):
- Kerlingarfjöll hot spring area
- Barðabunga lava field
- Námaskarð geothermal area
- Krafla volcanic area
- the Mars analogue landscapes at Askja
- the Myvatn area with the Skútustaðir pseudocraters and the Hverfjall cinder cone
- a poster sessions for students and early career scientists
- participant-led discussions
A multitude of highly merited researchers have agreed to teach at the course (see the
Programme page for details. The deadline for application is
31 March 2016 23:59:00 UTC. Summer school "Volcanism, Plate Tectonics, Hydrothermal Vents and Life"
Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, Portugal 23 August - 1 September 2016
The course aims to give participants a thorough introduction into influence of volcanism, plate tectonics on life and the role of hydrothermal vents in the emergence of life. It is co-organised by the
Nordic Network of Astrobiology, the Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership
"European Astrobiology Campus" and the EU COST Action
"Origins and Evolution of Life on Earth and in the Universe". The summer school, which is held in the picturesque town of Angra de HeroÃsmo (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage) will include:
- Lectures by internationally leading scientists covering a cornucopia of different fields
- Characterisation of microbes in lava caves and hot springs via Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
- Exploration of lava caves
- Poster sessions for students and early career scientists
- Participant-led discussions about forefront-topics
Bursaries including travel grants are available for students and early career investigators affiliated to universities in most European countries.
The deadline for application is 15 March 2016 23:59:00 UTC .
For further information about the event, access its website. Aims of the Nordic Network of Astrobiology
The Nordic Network of Astrobiology is a network of universities, other higher education institutions and research entities in the Nordic and Baltic Countries. Its aims to
- create a Nordic Research and Education area in Astrobiology
- promote research in astrobiology in the Nordic Countries
- foster co-operation between Nordic higher education and research institutions in research and graduate training
- organise courses in the field of astrobiology on all levels for students
- hold scientific meetings in astrobiology
- inform national and international science funding and space research organisations about achievements and future research plans in astrobiology
- collaborate with other astrobiology institutions worldwide in order to achieve these aims
- coordinate and conduct outreach work to promote public awareness on astrobiology
Funding and duration
No membership fees are charged. The Nordic Network of Astrobiology will apply for financial support for its activities from national and international research funding bodies. It is the duty of all teams to take part in this. The coordination group decides about the allocation of funds. Generally, it is expected that teams fund their own research activities and their participation in the Network, unless the Coordination group decides otherwise.
Members
Currently 20 research institutions are part of the network. 17 are located in the 5 different Nordic Countries. We have also one Estonian, one Lithuanian and one US institution. Furthermore the Nordic Network is an Affiliated Partner of the NASA Astrobiology institute since May 2011. For a complete list of the members please explore the menubar on the left. Members of the Coordination Group are listed on the Participants webpage.
Statutes and membership
The statutes of the network containing information about joining it can be downloaded here as .doc and here as a .pdf file.
