Category: Meetings

EAI Summer School in Iceland: Biosignatures and the Search For Life on Mars (and other planets)

18 to 26 June, 2026

The school 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 European Astrobiology Institute,  the University of Akureyri and Stockholm University. 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 Mars analogue landscapes with in situ life detection techniques
  • excursions to geologically and astrobiologically interesting sites (lava caves, new lava fields):
    • Námaskarð geothermal area
    • Krafla volcanic area
    • the Mars analogue landscapes in Northern Iceland
    • 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 15 April 2026 23:59:00 UTC.

The school is open for students amd scientists from all countries. For further information please click here.

See you in Iceland in June!

5th Interdisciplinary Origin of Life Meeting (from OoLEN) in Tokyo, Japan

Our friends at OoLEN are organising the 5th Interdisciplinary Origin of Life Meeting for Early Career Researchers (IOoL26) at ELSI in Tokyo, Japan September 9-11th. If you are interested in going or just want to keep up to date with the meeting, please fill in the form of interest here.

OoLEN membership is encouraged but not required.

British Planetary Science Conference (BPSC), UK, 2026

The British Planetary Science Conference will be hosted by the University of St Andrews, from 9-11th June 2026.

Registration for BPSC 2026 is now open and the registration portal can be found here.

Online registration is open til Wednesday 27th May, with the early registration deadline on Saturday 9th May. The abstract submission deadline is also on Saturday 9th May.

BPSC2026 will cover the wide range of our community’s interests including meteorites, sample return missions, Mars, the Moon and more. We want BPSC2026 to bring together planetary scientists from across disciplines and institutions to promote a collegiate and supportive space to discuss and present new ideas and results.

For more information, visit the event’s website here.

European Lunar Symposium (ELS) 2026, France

The next European Lunar Symposium (ELS) will take place at the Aquarium Museum of Nancy, in Nancy, France, from June 21–26, 2026.

Abstract submission and registration for ELS 2026 are now open!

Please visit the meeting webpage at https://sservi.nasa.gov/dev-els2026/ and note the various deadlines.

The European Lunar Symposium (ELS) is an annual international conference that brings together around 200 researchers, engineers, and professionals working on lunar science and exploration. Hosted each year in a different European city, ELS provides a key forum for presenting cutting-edge research, fostering collaborations, and discussing Europe’s role in the future of lunar exploration. ELS is excited to host the community for a week filled with thought-provoking discussions, inspiring sessions, and unique cultural experiences.

Exoplanet 6 conference in Porto, Portugal

Our friends from Portugal would like to invite you to the Exoplanets 6 conference which will take place in Porto, Portugal, between the 29th of June and the 3rd of July 2026, and cover all state-of-the-art aspects of exoplanet science, including:

Present day results of exoplanet research

The detailed characterization of exoplanets and exoplanetary systems: architecture, interior models, atmospheres, astrobiology

Next steps towards the detection of the lowest mass/smallest exoplanets: the methods and main the challenges (data analysis, improved treatment of astrophysical variability and instrumentation-based systematics)

Some important points for the conference:

Conference Contact: exoplanets6@iastro.pt

DEI survey for OoLEN

Our partners at OoLEN (Origin of Life Early-Career Network) are conducting a survey about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the field of origin of life research. Inclusion and Community are two of OoLEN’s key pillars, and as part of this, they are gathering information on the current DEI climate in the OoL field for early-career researchers (ECR).

Link to the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMkmpiJxzcRDR_LcOEOgtvcFjN__pdmKC3ppFjkFxPPTlBWA/viewform

The survey is fully anonymous!

Thank you!

Student Space Technology Conference in February in Tennessee

The Student Space Technology Association would like to invite you to their event – the Student Space Technology Conference (SSTC).

SSTC is a student-led event bringing together emerging leaders in space engineering from across academia, industry, and the government. Hosted by University Tennessee Knoxville’s Student Space Technology Association and powered by Type One Ventures, the SSTC is a national gathering of the top emerging space technology talent. The event will bring 250+ students, engineers, founders, and industry leaders to the University of Tennessee. It is a student-led, high-impact event that blends technical competition, industry networking, and thought-leading discussion on the future of space technology.

Anyone with an interest in the space industry and space technology from across the world can attend – there are a variety of ticket options.

Deadline to register: February 15th, 2026

Event takes place on: February 27th-28th, 2026

More information and registration: here

DEADLINE TOMORROW – International Geobiology Course 2026: Call for applicants! (doctoral students)

Join the International Geobiology Course (IGC), hosted by Penn State University

What: 5 weeks of immersive training in geobiology

Where: 2 weeks in Italy and 3 weeks in the USA, hosted at Penn State University

When: 6 June – 10 July 2026.

Eligibility is restricted to doctoral students in the geological or biological sciences. Participants must have valid passports. The course is taught in English.

Applications and details about international travel requirements are on the course website.

Course description: Fieldwork takes place in the Apennine and Sibillini Mountains, and at sulfidic springs, rivers, and cave systems in central Italy. Students will explore Fayetteville Green Lake, a meromictic system in upstate New York. The course includes expert lectures, laboratory and computer-based research.
Students are responsible for transportation to Italy and home from Penn State. Group travel from Italy to Penn State is provided. Housing and meals are provided, both in Italy and the US.

Questions: email us at geobio@psu.edu

Deadline for applications: February 2nd 2026

More information on the website

Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdeFaxcCa0DeKkK_DkWx-s0veCOeaIxUwdRTaYsPYwCpiYeKA/viewform

LAST MINUTE INVITATION: Share your memes! TODAY!

The Massive Exoplanet MEME Exhibition (MEME) would like to invite you to today’s (30th January 2026) opening of their online exhibition hall!

The MEME focuses on communicating topics such as astrophysics, exoplanets, and research in general in a way that is both informative and a lot of fun by using memes. Check out their website. There you will find not only the memes shared by others but also today’s livestream:

16:45 Door opens

17:00 Welcome speech

17:15 Invited talk by Adam Dipert

17:30 Invited talk by Anja C. Andersen

17:45 Explore exhibition and vote

18:30 Closing remarks

All times are in CET (GMT+1)

See you there!

The exhibition hall stays open from January 30th to February 4th

EAI Summer School in Iceland: Biosignatures and the Search For Life on Mars (and other planets)

18 to 26 July, 2026

The school 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 European Astrobiology Institute,  the University of Akureyri and Stockholm University. 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 Mars analogue landscapes with in situ life detection techniques
  • excursions to geologically and astrobiologically interesting sites (lava caves, new lava fields):
    • Námaskarð geothermal area
    • Krafla volcanic area
    • the Mars analogue landscapes in Northern Iceland
    • 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 15 April 2026 23:59:00 UTC.

The school is open for students amd scientists from all countries. For further information please click here.

See you in Iceland in June!