'Astrobiology' is the term that covers a broad set of questions linking biological and space sciences.

These questions range from understanding the origin of life on Earth and its possible origin on other planets and moons, such as Mars and Europa, to understanding the effects of asteroid and comet impacts on the Earth's environment and how we might one day send humans back to the moon and on to Mars. This latter question has become relevant in the light of Europe's growing interest in space exploration and its long-term interest in human spaceflight. These questions often involve interactions with many other disciplines from chemistry to earth sciences.

Scientists have been interested in the inter-disciplinary connections between biological and space sciences for a very long time. However, recently these diverse scientific questions have regained a momentum that requires a new environment conducive to inter-disciplinary connections.

Astrobiology provides a convenient umbrella under which these inter-disciplinary collaborations can take root and flourish in their widest manifestation.

The Astrobiology Society provides a forum to help those interested in astrobiology in the UK to develop new collaborations.