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Top space scientists gather in London to discuss the search for life in the universe

NASA astrobiologist to give public lecture on the potential of extra-terrestrial life

ASB6 Conference

NASA astrobiologist, Prof Lynn Rothschild, will lead a line-up of distinguished space scientists coming together next month to discuss the search for life in the universe.

The academics and researchers will gather for ASB6, the Astrobiology Society of Britain (ASB) conference, which this year will be hosted by the Centre for Planetary Science at University College London (UCL) and Birkbeck, University of London, from September 2 to 4.

Prof Rothschild, a prominent researcher at NASA’s Ames Research Center (ARC), will deliver a public lecture on Thursday, September 3 at the Darwin Lecture Theatre, UCL, at 6pm.

The sixth biennial conference is the flagship meeting of the ASB, and this year will focus on the theme: "The Origin, Distribution and Detection of Life in the Universe". To explore this topic, scientists from across the world will share their latest research at the three-day conference, including specialists in the fields of astronomy, astrochemistry and in the development of life-forms in other environments.

At her public lecture, Prof Rothschild will present on ‘The Search for Life in the Universe’. She will discuss the existence of liquid water throughout the solar system, and the survival of microbes in the space environment, leading to the conclusion that extra-terrestrial life may be more common than first thought.

The ASB6 programme also includes a busy schedule of 50 research presentations and briefings. Speakers at the conference include:

  • Mars Curiosity rover mission scientist, Prof Sanjeev Gupta, who will present on reconstructing ancient habitable environments in Mars’s Gale crater
  • Evolutionary biochemist, Dr Nick Lane, who will present on the origins of life from a bioenergetics perspective
  • Planetary science specialist, Prof Ian Crawford, who will make the astrobiological case for human space exploration
  • Jean-Pierre Paul de Vera, of the German Aerospace Center’s (DLR) Institute of Planetary Research, who will discuss recent International Space Station (ISS) experiments exploring the search for life on Mars and the icy moons

The Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL and Birkbeck was chosen to host the ASB6 conference due to the strength of its research activities in astrobiology.

Birkbeck’s Prof Ian Crawford, who also chairs the ASB’s Scientific Organising Committee said: “Hosting the conference is a reflection on the importance of astrobiology research at the Centre for Planetary Sciences, and an outstanding opportunity to show-case our work in this exciting area of science."

 

The ASB6 conference will be hosted by the Centre for Planetary Science at University College London (UCL) and Birkbeck, University of London, from September 2 to 4. For further information, visit www.ucl.ac.uk/cps/asb6

Prof Lynn Rothschild’s public lecture will be held at the Darwin Lecture Theatre, UCL, on Thursday, September 3 at 6pm. To register for this free event, visit the Eventbrite page.

 

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