5th UK Astrobiology Society of Britain Conference: Molecules and Life in Extremes

To understand the origin of life, how life has persisted on the Earth for over 3.5 billion years and whether we might find it elsewhere, requires that we understand how life and molecules adapt to extreme environments. The 5th UK Astrobiology conference, supported by the UK Space Agency, will explore molecules and life in extremes and the implications for the search for extraterrestrial life.
The conference welcomes astronomers, biologists, chemists, physicists and other disciplines that intersect with astrobiology.

This event marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Astrobiology Society of Britain.
Topics

Sessions will include: Mars science and exploration, astrobiology outreach, icy bodies research, life in extreme environments, molecules in extreme environments.

Wednesday, 17 April 2013 – Friday, 19 April 2013

Speakers

Invited speakers include:

– Lynn Rothschild (NASA Ames, USA): Synthetic Biology in Space
– Jennifer Biddle (Univ. Delaware, USA), What the intraterrestrials can tell us about the search for extraterrestrial life
– Frances Westall (CNRS, France): The Search for Life on Mars: Lessons from the early Earth
– Andrew Spry (JPL, USA): Planetary Protection
– Lorna Dougan (Leeds, UK): Single molecules under extremes
– David Holmes (Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Chile): Iron bioegeochemistry in acid environments
– Gerda Horneck (DLR, Germany): Astrobiology in Earth Orbit
Social events will include a Ceilidh, whisky tasting and a conference dinner, giving delegates a true taste of Scotland.

Centre launch

The conference is preceded by an informal opening of the UK Centre for Astrobiology on the evening of Tuesday April 16th. The event will be a series of short talks, followed by a reception and a public lecture on ‘The Search for Life in the Universe’ by Christopher McKay, NASA Ames Research Centre. This is not a conference event, but conference delegates are welcome to sign up to attend.
Registration and further information
Register via the Astrobiology website.

Registration and abstract deadline: February 28th 2013

ASB5 is supported by the UK Centre for Astrobiology, the Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions, the UK Space Agency, the Royal Astronomical Society. Travel grants are available for early career scientists.

Location
University of Edinburgh