‘Deep Life: The Hunt for the Hidden Biology of Earth, Mars, and Beyond’ by Tullis C. Onstott
Deep Life is an account of the rise of the field of geobiology from a barely considered pseudoscience in the early 20th century to the keystone of astrobiology it is today. Professor Onstott was there for the majority of this journey, and his perspective on these events gives a fascinating insight into the makings of the field we know today. The first-person perspective is often a blessing, with Onstott’s passion for his subject coming across wonderfully in his writing. On the other hand it can sometimes be limiting, with the adoption of a strict chronological narrative meaning that subjects...
Read MorePhD Opportunity at the University of Westminster
PhD: Spectroscopic biosignatures of microbial life on Mars Prof. Lewis Dartnell, University of Westminster Astrobiology is the multidisciplinary field of science engaged in the search for life beyond Earth. Our planetary neighbour, Mars, shows extensive evidence for a habitable environment conducive to the origin and persistence of life early in the planet’s history. Mars has, however, since suffered an environmental collapse: the planet today is very cold and dry, and the lack of magnetic field or substantial atmosphere means the surface is bathed in harmful ultraviolet and...
Read More‘Nobody Owns the Moon’ by Tony Milligan
Is the exploration of space justified by our natural wanderlust? Are we morally obliged to terraform other planets in order to avert stagnation or extinction on Earth? Should we worry about the socio-economic consequences of asteroid mining, or the aesthetic damage done by the extraction of Helium-3 from the moon? Such questions have vexed sci-fi writers and space scientists for decades, but the apparent imminence of a new space age powered by private enterprise has given them fresh urgency. Tony Milligan, an ethicist at King’s College, London, is one of the many philosophers and social...
Read MorePhD Opportunities at UCL/Birkbeck
The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences will have an STFC-funded PhD studentship available in the field of planetary science from 1 October 2017. The successful candidate will be based in the Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck which has a strong record in training planetary science PhD students and provides a rich environment in which to develop knowledge in multiple areas of lunar and planetary science. Projects include: (1) characterising the ExoMars 2020 landing site, and (2) identifying and quantifying active surface processes on Mars. Both of these projects will enable...
Read MoreWatch the Barrie Jones Inaugural Award Lecture 2016
For anyone who missed this year’s Barrie Jones Award Lecture a recording of the event can be viewed online here. The Barrie Jones Award recognises an individual’s contribution to society and outstanding achievement in science and outreach through work relating to astrobiology. It was established by the Open University (OU) Department of Physical Sciences in partnership with the ASB with the legacy of the late Barrie Jones (1941–2014), an astrobiologist at the OU, who dedicated much of his career to public engagement and outreach. The inaugural recipient of the award was Lisa...
Read More