Upcoming Royal Institution Events
The Royal Institution will be hosting some events this October that may be of interest to ASB members. These will explore questions such as “Why does the universe seem to be just right for life?” and “What does the future of science have in store?” Details below: A fortunate universe Tuesday 17 October, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Over the last century, scientists have come to realise that if the universe had been born with even slightly different properties, life would be impossible, and the cosmos would be dead and sterile. So why does our universe...
Read MoreExobiology Research Fellow position at ESTEC
The European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), ESA’s main technology and test centre for spacecraft and space technology, is advertising a research fellowship opportunity in exobiology research coordination. The Science Department is responsible for the definition and coordination of the scientific research performed on-board the International Space Station (ISS), other spaceflight platforms and ground based analogues within the SciSpacE element of the European Exploration Envelope Programme (E3P). The overall scientific objectives of SciSpacE until 2024 are defined in 10...
Read MoreCall for Ideas: The Deep Space Gateway
The Deep Space Gateway will be humanity’s first spaceship. A human tended spacecraft in lunar vicinity that can move between orbits and where we can tackle the major challenges of human exploration in deep space. Preparations for the Deep Space Gateway are in being led by the International Space Station partner agencies. ESA invites the scientific community to contribute to the definition of this exploration driven platform by identifying the scientific opportunities that the Deep Space Gateway could offer and how these opportunities might be realised. A Call For Ideas is now open, which...
Read MorePost-Doc Opportunities: Origins Center, Netherlands
Six postdoctoral positions in origins of life research are available at the Origins Center in the Netherlands. The Origins Center is a recent, multidisciplinary and multi-institute initiative comprising a large number of top tier scientists in the Netherlands and is coordinated by the University of Groningen. Scientists affiliated with at least 17 Dutch universities and research institutes participate in its research. The center aims to investigate: The origin of life and of life-bearing planets The predictability of evolution Building and steering life from molecule to biosphere Finding...
Read MoreWhy looking for aliens is good for society
Beyond answering the question of whether or not we are alone in the Universe, what can searching for alien life do for us here on Earth? In a recent article in The Conversation, the ASB’s Ian Crawford outlines how society benefits from the merging of scientific disciplines and from the new perspectives astrobiology can give us of our place in the cosmos (even if we find nothing). To find out more, read the full article here: Why looking for aliens is good for society (even if there aren’t any)
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