Workshop: Microsatellites and their use in planetary and astrobiology research

Running in Tartu (Estonia) from the 1st to the 8th of August 2023, this workshop will 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

In order 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, University 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 are included as a social programme.

For further information, please check the website.

Summer school “Volcanism, Plate Tectonics, Hydrothermal ventsand life”

The summer school organised by the EAI will focus on which role volcanism, plate tectonics and hydrothermal vents played in the emergence and evolution of life.
There will be lectures by leading scientists in the field, sampling excursions to lava caves and solfatares, exercises on the genetic characterisation of
extremophiles populations
in those habitats, as well as on cultivation of
bacteria
.

The summer school will take place in Angra (in the Azores Islands, Portugal) from the 11th to the 21st of October 2023. There
are flights to the close Terceira Lajes airport from both Europe
mainland, the US and Canada.

The summer school will include:

  • Lectures by leading scientists in the field covering a cornucopia of different subjects
  • Field excursions to geologically interesting sights (volcanic areas, hot springs, lava caves, etc.)
  • Exploration of lava caves
  • Characterisation of microbes in lava caves and hot springs via Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
  • Poster sessions
  • Participant-led discussions

 >> The deadline for applications is July 1st, 2023 <<

Please check the EAI website for more info

Summer school “Impacts and their Role in the Evolution of Life”

The course organised by the EAI will give the participants a thorough introduction into
how meteorite, comet and asteroid impacts participate in shaping
life on Earth
. The following subjects will be covered by the lecture:

  • Roles of impacts in the formation of habitable planets
  • Physical and chemical properties of comets and meteorites
  • Detection and investigation of impact craters by geological meth and remote sensing from space
  • Ecological consequences of impacts and the role of impacts in mass extinctions
  • Transfer of life through meteorite impacts
  • Threat of life on our planet by near-Earth asteroids and comets

The lecture programme will be complemented by practical exercises concerning:

  • Investigations of Suevite formations
  • Analysis of pollen indicators impacts events.
  • Microscopy of impactites
  • Outreach work for a conference on “Impacts and their role in the evolution of life” in Nördlingen in autumn 2024

 The summer school will be held in Nördlingen (Germany)the centre of the Ries Crater impact, from the 5th to the 14th of September 2023.

Lectures will cover a cornucopia of subjects ranging
from properties of impactors, physics of impacts, ecological
consequences of impacts, impact geology to impacts on Mars. Exercises
will comprise geological field studies at the Ries and the
neighbouring Steinheim crater as well as palynological and
petrographic microscopy studies.

Many leading scientists will teach a
the school.

Bursaries are available for students and early-career scientists.

Nördlingen is a very nice medieval city situated on the
“Romantic Road” with an intact city wall and offers good
accommodation and meals. It is easy to reach from the international
airports from Munich and Frankfurt as well as by train.

 >> The deadline for applications is 15 June 2023 <<

Please check the EAI website for more info

Exobiologie Jeunes Chercheurs 2022 – Paris – October 17-19

The organizers are pleased to invite you to the 5th edition of the exobiological meetings for young researchers (EJC’22). This new edition will be held on October 17, 18 and 19 in Paris. These meetings are dedicated to early career researchers involved in research fields and themes questioning the origins and evolutions of life in the Universe.

👉 All the information on the website 👈

This event is organized by some of the RED22 participants – the main language will be French but you can give your talk in English.

The abstract submission deadline is Monday, August 1st and registration closes September 20th. The registration form, the template for submitting abstracts and other practical information can be found on the site.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions,

Exobiologically yours,

The EJC’22 team.

CELTA-Cortina Summer Schools in Astronomy-Celestial Mechanics

The 2-week long CELTA-Cortina Summer Schools in Astronomy-Celestial Mechanics are back and
📣in person!📣

The organizers would like to invite you to the CELTA ASI Summer School 2022:

From Stardust to Extrasolar Planets: Dynamics of Exoplanetary and Solar System Bodies

🌍 Where: University of Highlands & Islands (UHI), Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Skye, & UHI Inverness, Scotland

📅 Dates: 15 – 27 August 2022 📅

👉 Click here for more info 👈

❗️ Application deadline: 7th June – apply here ❗️

Aim of this School: To stimulate the cross-fertilisation of ideas between the communities who work in exoplanetary and solar system dynamics and to understand the latest tools and methods of analysis necessary for research into exoplanets, solar system bodies and planetary systems.

PhD students and early-career/established researchers are welcome to join!

Contact: exoplanet@gcu.ac.uk

Summer school “Life on Earth and Beyond – History and Philosophy of Astrobiology: The Origin of Life”

📣 Applications are open for this unique summer school! 📣

Co-organised by the European Astrobiology Institute and the Space Humanities Group at Lund University, the course is open for students and scientists in humanities, natural, social and political sciences.

📅 Dates: May 30th – June 1st, 2022 📅

🌍 Where: Ven Island, Sweden 🌍

👉 Click here for more info 👈

The deadline for applying is on the 1st of April – apply here