Category: Meetings

AbGradE 2026 workshop ahead of EANA in Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Registration will open soon!
AbGradE is back to action and will organise its signature event on August 31st, 2026 the day before the 26th European Astrobiology Network Association (EANA) conference on September 1-4. Both events will take place in person at the Space Exploration Institute in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

The topic is “Astrobiology Icy Moons Missions“, where participants will have an opportunity to design a mission/experimental concept relevant to the icy moons of our Solar System. These ideas will then be developed in writing during the second half of the workshop, which focuses on strengthening academic writing skills.

With the exploration of the Solar System’s icy moons entering an exciting new chapter, there has never been a better time to get involved. Join us to learn about the opportunities ahead, engage with experts in the field, and connect with fellow students and early-career researchers. Before EANA even begins, let AbGradE introduce you to the community that will accompany you on your scientific journey.

Registration will open shortly. To receive the registration link, join our AbGradE emailing list, stay tuned to updates on this website, or follow us on or social media (X: @abgradeurope; Instagram: _abgrade_).

Hope to see you there!

AbGradEPEC 2026

The Europlanet Early-Career (EPEC) Network and Astrobiology Graduates in Europe (AbGradE) are thrilled to announce the latest event in our long-standing series of collaborations! 

This year, we invite you to the AbGradEPEC’26 joint meeting, which will take place before EPSC 2026 on Sunday 6th September in The Hague, Netherlands! 

AbGradEPEC’26 will kick off with a relaxed “speed science-ing” icebreaker, where attendees meet in small, rotating groups, giving everyone the chance to connect and engage with a variety of participants in an informal setting.

At the heart of AbGradEPEC’26 is an early-career symposium, offering participants a welcoming and informal space to share their current research and exchange ideas with fellow attendees.

Registration and abstract submission are now open. To join the event, please fill this registration form.

Summer School “Icy Bodies and Life” in Tartu, Estonia.

1 – 8 August, 2026

The summer school Icy Bodies and Life (Tartu, Estonia 1-8 August 2026) is going to provide the participant with comprehensive knowledge of icy bodies in the Solar System, from their formation in planetary systems to their role as potential habitats for life. This school is going to connect planetary science, astrochemistry, astrobiology, and space technology to examine how icy bodies like moons, comets, and asteroids form, evolve, and interact. During the school we will be carrying out asteroid observations with local telescopes.

The deadline for the application is May 30th 2026.

Application should include (a) a short CV (max 2 pages), (b) a motivation letter (only students from Estonian universities), and (c) a publication list (if applicable). Applicants will be informed about the outcome in due course after the application deadline.

Confirmed registration and payment deadline is June 15th, 2026. After your application is accepted, you will be sent more detailed information about registration and payment. Details on participation fees and the link to the application form can be found here.

See you in Tartu in August!

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