In order to assess the current extent of astrobiology activity in the UK, and to provide a comprehensive source of information to help people get involved in astrobiology, the Astrobiology Society of Britain has conducted a nationwide survey. This survey looked at both academic research and teaching in astrobiology now being conducted in the UK.

And the results are out now!

Between May 2007 and October 2008 a large number of questionnaires were distributed to the entire membership list of the ASB, the UK Planetary Forum, and the AstroSurf network. The survey was also forwarded to UK authors of papers published in the International Journal of Astrobiology and Astrobiology journal over the previous two years, and to those with oral or poster presentations at several domestic and international astrobiology meetings (including EANA 2006, AbSciCon 2006, Bioastronomy 2007). Furthermore, Astrobiology journal kindly circulated the survey to its entire UK distribution list in September 2007. The original questionnaire is still available for reference from the ASB website here.

A total of 41 questionnaire were returned. Six of these questionnaires reported that, to the knowledge of the respondent, no astrobiology research or teaching was conducted at that institution. Complete details of this nationwide astrobiology survey and the full set of results have been published in Astrobiology journal:

• Dartnell and Burchell. Survey on Astrobiology Research and Teaching Activities Within the United Kingdom. Astrobiology (2009) vol. 9 (8) pp. 717--730
• http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/ast.2009.0348

For more information on astrobiology in the UK, please refer to this paper or contact the author, Lewis Dartnell: l.dartnell(at)ucl.ac.uk.

Great efforts were made to ensure that this survey provides as comprehensive a snapshot as possible. However, if your research group or teaching course has been missed, please contact  l.dartnell(at)ucl.ac.uk and it will be included.

Where are the astrobiologists?

This map shows the current distribution of astrobiology activity in the UK, colour-coded for research, teaching, or both.

Research

The survey found 33 different research groups investigating various elements of astrobiology. Collectively, this research reaches right across the very broad range of disciplines encompassed by astrobiology. UK groups are involved in topics including:

A table containing the complete list of all astrobiology groups responding to this survey is provided in the paper reporting the survey results (reference below). If you are interested in getting involved in astrobiology research, perhaps as a Ph.D. student or post-doc, take a look at this research table for groups that involve your interests or area of expertise.

Teaching

Many of these astrobiology centres in the UK also offer taught courses in the subject. The ASB survey found 15 different astrobiology courses. All of these are, however, single modules within undergraduate degree programmes or informal courses offered to undergraduates/postgraduates. To take a formal course in astrobiology you would still need to apply and be accepted to enroll on a university degree programme in a science subject such as biology, biochemistry, geology, or physics and astronomy. The Open University offers a module called 'An Introduction to Astrobiology' (module S283, Part 2), which may be taken as part of a distance learning course.

A complete list of these astrobiology courses is provided in the paper reporting the survey results (reference below). The University running the course, course title, and annual number of students are all given.

Stop the Press!

Since running this survey and publishing the results, we have become aware of other research groups and courses on Astrobiology within the UK. Here are the details:

Research groups

• University of Bath, Centre for Extremophile Research

Taught courses

• University of Central Lancashire. University Certificate in Astrobiology Course - VSABIO501