Tag: EAI

Spring School “The birth of Solar Systems” (Bertinoro, Italy,  25 February – 6 March 2025)

The European Astrobiology Institute and the COST Action ”The Birth of Solar Systems” (CA22133) will organise

Spring School “The birth of Solar Systems”
“Evolution, observation and modelling of protoplanetary disks and planet formation”
Bertinoro, Italy,  25 February – 6 March 2025

The school will be held in very nice settings at the Bertinoro Castle, close to Bologna, overlooking the Padanian valley during the blooming of the cherry and peach trees in the quaint small town of Bertinoro.

The school will consist of the following parts:

  • Introductory talks into the basic issues of the course subjects by participants
  • Lectures by leading researchers on
    • Formation of stars and planetary systems
    • Formation and early evolution of protoplanetary disks
    • Late stages of protoplanetary disks and formation of planets
  • Practical exercises working with data from the Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA)
  • Poster sessions

The event is aimed for graduate (masters and PhD) students and early career scientists. Senior scientists and citizen scientists are also eligible but have lower priority. The event is open to applicants from all nationalities.

Bursaries are available for researchers and students from almost all European countries (See a list at: https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA22133/#tabs+Name:Management%20Committee).
These bursaries will cover:

  • Travel to and from the venue by economy class flight and/or equal surface transport
  • Accommodation during the summer school (24 February evening – 7 March morning) at the course venue
  • Meals (breakfasts, lunches, dinners) from dinner on 24th February until breakfasts on 7th March
  • Coffee breaks
  • Excursions

The application deadline is 30th November 2024. Please find all the information about the spring school at the website: https://europeanastrobiology.eu/the-birth-of-solar-planets-summer-school-homepage/

Early Career Workshop: Microsatellites and their use in planetary and astrobiology research (Tartu, Estonia, 24-31 August 2024)

To plan missions involving such small satellites successfully, intensive interaction and cooperation between scientists and space technologists are necessary, which is still lacking in some potential key applications. The workshop school aims to:

  • Highlight the possible potential of microsatellites in exploring different targets like the Moon, small bodies and outer satellites
  • Foster the interaction between space researchers and technologists
  • Allow participants to start the design and planning of new space missions
  • Contribute to the training of a new generation of space researchers

The work on the mission designs will continue after the workshop, thus ensuring a long-term impact.

The European Astrobiology Institute, Univeristy of Tartu and Stockholm University Astrobiology Centre will function as co-organisers of the workshop.

The event is open to applicants from all nationalities. Nevertheless, recommendation letters for visa applications are only issued for participants selected by the organisers.

PLEASE NOTE: A limited number of bursaries for students and early career scientists (up to 8 years from their first PhD in a related field) from EAI institutions (see a list here) will be available. We are also working to get some funding for students and early career scientists from the US. Participants from EAI Institutions selected by the EAI for bursaries will be offered free lunches, excursions, farewell dinner and accommodation in a shared 2-bedded room at Raatuse Hostel from 23 August (arrival) to 1 September 2024 (departure), but have to fund their travel on their own. There is no special application for the bursaries, just send in your application form and tell us in the e-mail. Participants selected for the bursaries will be notified immediately after the application deadline (in good time after the registration deadline).

All information is found on the on the >>website<<

Conference: Social and Ethical Frontiers in Space Exploration (Kiruna, Sweden, 23-24 September 2024)

A joint meeting of the European Astrobiology Institute and the Society for Social and Conceptual Issues in Astrobiology.

This meeting will bring scholars, students, politicians, journalists and other stakeholders together to discuss the ethical, political legal, societal and environmental aspects of space exploration.

Experts from every discipline interested in exploring the many complex social and ethical questions raised by space exploration and the search for life on other planets are invited to attend the first joint meeting of the two major groups devoted to this end.  We welcome submissions addressing any of the many “broader questions” in astrobiology and space exploration such as:

  •  Commercial activity in space
  •  Human colonization of other worlds
  •  The true nature of “life”’
  •  Emerging issues in space law
  •  Ethical questions regarding the search for extraterrestrial life and intelligence
  •  Balancing diverse cultural perspectives in space research
  •  Space Mining  and ownership of space “resources”
  •  First Contact protocols
  •  “Pollution” in the context of space
  •  Societal and religious implications of a possible discovery of extraterrestrial life
  •  Fictional portrayals of space

A limited number of bursaries for students and early career scholars (up to 8 years from their first Ph. D. in a related field) from US and EAI institutions (see a list here) will be available.  Those bursaries imply:

  • refund for the registration fee including lunches and coffee breaks
  • refund for accommodation in Malmfaelten Adult Learning Centre
  • refund for participation in the excursion

Please specify in your email if you want to apply for a bursary. (Membership in one of the Working Groups or Project Teams alone does NOT entitle you to the EAI participating institution fee).

Kiruna, located some 200 miles north of the arctic circle, is home to the Swedish Estrange Space Center and Rocket Range.  At this time of year, attendees should be able to see both splendid fall colors as well as the Northern Light. Please check the website

All information is found on the on the >>website<<

Only 4 days to submit your abstract!

The deadline for submitting your abstract to AbGradEPEC’24 is coming up soon – this Saturday June 15th!

Don’t miss out on showing off what you’ve been working on, as well as meeting two people who have mastered the art of applying to some of the most coveted positions in our line of work: an internship and a postdoctoral fellowship at ESA 🔬🔭🧪

Submitting an abstract is easy: all you have to do is send a short abstract (max. 200 words) using this template to abgrade (at) eana-net (.) eu (and remember that this should be work that you either present as a poster at EPSC’24 or any other project not presented at EPSC’24).

Head over >> here << to register.

2 weeks left to submit your abstract!

The deadline for submitting your abstract to AbGradEPEC’24 is coming up soon – Saturday June 1st!

Picture this: you and other scientists in Germany’s most creative city talking about what you like the most 🔬🔭🧪

Submitting an abstract is easy: all you have to do is send a short abstract (max. 200 words) using this template to abgrade (at) eana-net (.) eu (and remember that this should be work that you either present as a poster at EPSC’24 or any other project not presented at EPSC’24).

Don´t miss out on the opportunity to present your work, we all want to hear about it!

Head over >> here << to register.

Conference: Social and Ethical Frontiers in Space Exploration (Kiruna, Sweden, 23-24 September 2024)

A joint meeting of the European Astrobiology Institute and the Society for Social and Conceptual Issues in Astrobiology

This meeting will bring scholars, students, politicians, journalists and other stakeholders together to discuss the ethical, political legal, societal and environmental aspects of space exploration.

The conference will take place at Malmfälten Adult Education Centre in Kiruna, Sweden. Kiruna is 300 km north of the Arctic Circle and home to the Swedish ESRANGE Space Center and Rocket Range.

This promises to be a conference to remember, as it takes place during Lapland’s beautiful Indian Summer, which offers good prospectives for viewing the Northern Lights, and features tours of the Space Center and other local attractions along with an interesting and highly interdisciplinary program. Experts from every discipline interested in exploring the many complex social and ethical questions raised by space exploration and the search for life on other planets are invited to attend the first joint meeting of the two major groups devoted to this end.

Submissions addressing any of the many “broader questions” in astrobiology and space exploration are welcome

>> Abstract submission deadline is 1st June 2024 <<
>> Registration deadline is 30th June 2024 <<

All information is found on the on the >>website<<

EAI General Assembly

You are invited to participate in the General Assembly of the European Astrobiology Institute.

The General Assembly will run under the heading “Astrobiology: Recent Highlights and Future Key questions”.
It will take place from 4th June 2024 in the morning to 6th June 2024 in the evening at the Hessenpark Open Air Museum close to Frankfurt (Germany). Its main aim is to present past highlights of European Astrobiology and, especially detailed planning of the activities of the EAI’s Working Groups. The General Assembly will be held as a hybrid event with the possibility for online participation, although in the pursuit to foster fruitful discussion about future projects and initiatives of the EAI, physical presence is encouraged. The venue is inexpensive and easy to reach – there are many flights going to Frankfurt from lots of airports 

The General Assembly is open to interested scientists and students, We will also provide a limited number of bursaries for students and early career scientists covering single accommodation in the course venue or a hotel nearby and meals during the stay at the meeting. If you want to apply for a bursary please send in an abstract for a talk using the abstract form and inform us in the email that you are applying for a bursary.  

No registration fee is charged for attending the General Assembly.    

>> The website of the General Assembly of the EAI is now available at: https://europeanastrobiology.eu/2024-eai-general-assembly/ <<

The different Working Groups have identified several key subjects inside its area which it should have a special focus on for the next 2-3 years. At the General Assembly, those subjects will be discussed in detail. About half a day of the General Assembly will be devoted to each Working Group to discuss these themes in detail. These sessions will not only contain scientific talks but also ample time for discussions.  

The business meeting of the EAI will be held on the last evening. There will also be time to discuss plans for public engagement, media work, training, industry liaisons etc. Also, break-out sessions to discuss proposals (COST Actions, ERC Joint Projects. ISSI teams, ITN Networks) can be arranged.

The deadline of registration and abstract submission is 15th April 2024. If you want to apply for a bursary please mention it in the email. Recipients of bursaries which cover accommodation and meals will be notified in due course.

Early Career Workshop: Microsatellites and their use in planetary and astrobiology research (Tartu, Estonia, 24-31 August 2024)

The aim of the workshop will be to enable students and early career scientists to design micro-and nanosatellite missions tackling scientific themes and target objects they have chosen themselves previously. The workshop will consist of three parts:

  • a lectured part consisting of in-depth talks on the scientific background of the chosen mission themes and on important issues in satellite technology
  • a mission designing part where attendees plan these endeavours in detail with the help of satellite technologists
  • a final presentation of all the projects

To plan missions involving such small satellites successfully, intensive interaction and cooperation between scientists and space technologists are necessary, which is still lacking in some potential key applications. The workshop school aims to:

  • Highlight the possible potential of microsatellites in exploring different targets like the Moon, small bodies and outer satellites
  • Foster the interaction between space researchers and technologists
  • Allow participants to start the design and planning of new space missions
  • Contribute to the training of a new generation of space researchers

The work on the mission designs will continue after the workshop, thus ensuring a long-term impact.

The European Astrobiology Institute, Univeristy of Tartu and Stockholm University Astrobiology Centre will function as co-organisers of the workshop.

The workshop will consist of lectures by leading scientists, planning for different micro- or nanosatellite projects in small groups as well as open discussions. Participants will also have the possibility to display their own research results in a poster session. Furthermore, a one-day excursion to South Estonia and a walk around Tartu is included as a social programme.

The event is open to applicants from all nationalities. Nevertheless, recommendation letters for visa applications are only issued for participants selected by the organisers.

PLEASE NOTE: A limited number of bursaries for students and early career scientists (up to 8 years from their first PhD in a related field) from EAI institutions (see a list here) will be available. We are also working to get some funding for students and early career scientists from the US. Participants from EAI Institutions selected by the EAI for bursaries will be offered free lunches, excursions, farewell dinner and accommodation in a shared 2-bedded room at Raatuse Hostel from 23 August (arrival) to 1 September 2024 (departure), but have to fund their travel on their own. There is no special application for the bursaries, just send in your application form and tell us in the e-mail. Participants selected for the bursaries will be notified immediately after the application deadline (in good time after the registration deadline).

>> Application deadline is 1st May 2024 <<

All information is found on the on the >>website<<

EAI online seminar: Life on Earth, and Earth Alone: How to Make Sense of the N = 1 Problem in Astrobiology

Philipp Spillmann Department of History & Philosophy of Science University of Cambridge, UK

Tuesday, 5th March 2024, 16:00 CET (15:00 UTC)

Astrobiology is often said to be limited to a single instance of life in the universe: Life as we know it on Earth. Scientists and philosophers alike have been worried that this unfortunate predicament may lead to serious, perhaps even insurmountable obstacles to the justification of astrobiological models and theories. This concern is known as the N = 1 problem. In my talk, I take a closer look at this problem from a philosophical perspective, and analyze how exactly it is best phrased, explained, and solved – both in theory and scientific practice.

The talk will be streamed at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6631204351

Watch the trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKnxVSsXEt8