UKSA Announcement
UK Space Agency announces £2M funding awards for astrobiology and planetary science
The UKSA has announced nine funding awards, totalling £2M, for science associated with Mars exploration. This scheme will enhance the UK’s science capabilities; help us to understand the Martian environment and to search for traces of past and present life.
Two of the awards will enable UK researchers to benefit from NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. The new American rover, ‘Curiosity,’ is due to land on the Red Planet in August 2012, and will deliver vital data for scientists assessing the viability of life on the planet.
Fellowships were awarded to Dr Lewis Dartnell to move to the University of Leicester and Dr Karen Olsson-Francis of the Open University, both of whom sit on the committee for the Astrobiology Society of Britain, and Dr Pete Grindrod of University College London. Each Fellow will work for three years on key scientific questions focused on the search for life on Mars. Dr Dartnell said “I’m absolutely delighted with this award. The fellowship will allow me to really focus on research. Raman is particularly exciting as it can spot signs of extreme life in the most hostile environments on Earth – and has lots of other applications, like detecting drugs – but has not yet been deployed on a planetary mission.
Charles Cockell from the University of Edinburgh, Mark Sephton from Imperial College London and Mark Price of the University of Kent all received awards to support their work, looking respectively at the habitability of Mars; the application of Mars-bound instruments in Earth-based experiments; and the chemistry of meteor and comet impacts on the Martian surface. Axel Hagermann of the Open University received an award to enable his study of the Martian polar caps, and the potential of these regions to support life.
For a full list of the successful principal investigators, project titles, and awarded funds, see the UKSA announcement
http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency/news-and-events/2012/May/new-funding-for-martian-science
UK Space Agency announces £2M funding awards for astrobiology and planetary scienceThe UKSA has announced nine funding awards, totalling £2M, for science associated with Mars exploration. This scheme will enhance the UK’s science capabilities; help us to understand the Martian environment and to search for traces of past and present life.
Two of the awards will enable UK researchers to benefit from NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. The new American rover, ‘Curiosity,’ is due to land on the Red Planet in August 2012, and will deliver vital data for scientists assessing the viability of life on the planet.
Fellowships were awarded to Dr Lewis Dartnell to move to the University of Leicester and Dr Karen Olsson-Francis of the Open University, both of whom sit on the committee for the Astrobiology Society of Britain, and Dr Pete Grindrod of University College London. Each Fellow will work for three years on key scientific questions focused on the search for life on Mars.
Dr Dartnell said “I’m absolutely delighted with this award. The fellowship will allow me to really focus on research. Raman is particularly exciting as it can spot signs of extreme life in the most hostile environments on Earth – and has lots of other applications, like detecting drugs – but has not yet been deployed on a planetary mission.
Dr Dartnell said “I’m absolutely delighted with this award. The fellowship will allow me to really focus on research. Raman is particularly exciting as it can spot signs of extreme life in the most hostile environments on Earth – and has lots of other applications, like detecting drugs – but has not yet been deployed on a planetary mission.
Charles Cockell from the University of Edinburgh, Mark Sephton from Imperial College London and Mark Price of the University of Kent all received awards to support their work, looking respectively at the habitability of Mars; the application of Mars-bound instruments in Earth-based experiments; and the chemistry of meteor and comet impacts on the Martian surface. Axel Hagermann of the Open University received an award to enable his study of the Martian polar caps, and the potential of these regions to support life.
For a full list of the successful principal investigators, project titles, and awarded funds, see the UKSA announcement
Last Updated (Sunday, 13 May 2012 09:25)
I'm a Scientist
'I'm a Scientist , Get Me Out of Here!' is back for another season, and is now looking for more scientists to take part. 'I'm a Scientist' is a wonderfully innovative outreach project, where school students get to meet online and interact with real scientists. It’s an X Factor-style competition between the scientists, with the students as the judges. Students submit questions which the scientists try to answer, as well as live online Facebook-style chats where they ask questions, learn more about the scientists, and let scientists know their opinions. The scientists are split into different zones, depending on their field, and the winner from each zone is awarded a generous fund to put towards an outreach project of their own.
Applications are now open here: http://imascientist.org.uk/scientist-apply
Adam Stevens, an astrobiologist at Open University, won the 'Space Race' zone in the last competition. He describes the experience:I'm A Scientist, get me out of here, is a real chance to get your knowledge on. Being bombarded by questions for two weeks might not sound like much fun, but here's a secret - it is. The format of the event involves schoolchildren submitting questions for you to answer and chatting with classes that book a live chat with your zone. The zones are themed, but a lot of questions and chats don't necessarily revolve around that theme. Some of them can be pretty random! I certainly found out I knew a lot of fairly inane trivia.
The element of competition (you compete for votes against the four other scientists in your zone) certainly adds and edge to things and my zone got pretty heated near the end. However, the satisfaction of interacting with such a wide group of kids is reward in itself. The prize money doesn't hurt either, and with an broad astrobiology background, you'll have a head start on the competition!
'I'm A Scientist, get me out of here', is a real chance to get your knowledge on. Being bombarded by questions for two weeks might not sound like much fun, but here's a secret - it is. The format of the event involves schoolchildren submitting questions for you to answer and chatting with classes that book a live chat with your zone. The zones are themed, but a lot of questions and chats don't necessarily revolve around that theme. Some of them can be pretty random! I certainly found out I knew a lot of fairly inane trivia.
The element of competition (you compete for votes against the four other scientists in your zone) certainly adds and edge to things and my zone got pretty heated near the end. However, the satisfaction of interacting with such a wide group of kids is reward in itself. The prize money doesn't hurt either, and with an broad astrobiology background, you'll have a head start on the competition!
Last Updated (Friday, 11 May 2012 11:00)
ASB in the MediaMembers of the Astrobiology Society of Britain often contribute to radio or television programmes on space exploration and the search for life beyond Earth. Here's a sample of this media activity. BBC Stargazing Live: Astrobiology [video] - Lewis Dartnell talks about how he got into a career in astrobiology research. Seven Wonders of the Microbial World: Life on Mars [video] - Charles Cockell and Zita Martins discuss the possibility of microbial life on the red planet BBC Sky at Night: 700 Not Out [video] - Lewis Dartnell discusses whether there is alien life out there for the anniversary episode of Sky at Night TeachFind: Chemistry [video] - Featuring Terry Kee talking about phosphorus and the origins of life on Earth Monsters featurette [video] - Lewis Dartnell talks about the science behind the film Monsters, and the chances for life in Europa. How did life start on Earth? [podcast] - Astrotalk UK interview with Terry Kee about the origins of Life Are We Alone? [podcast] - Lewis Dartnell spoke at the Wellcome Collection as part of their Packed Lunch series about the search for life on Mars, and whether we're alone in the Universe. Meteorites [podcast] - Zita Martins spoke at the Wellcome Collection as part of their Packed Lunch series about meteorites
Last Updated (Sunday, 13 May 2012 12:20) International Journal of Astrobiology relaunches
The New Face of the International journal of Astrobiology
Rocco L. Mancinelli, Editor-in-Chief
The International Journal of Astrobiology has major changes occurring. We have a new face in the form of a new cover design, new chief editorship, an enlarged and broadened editorial board and most importantly a new outlook for the journal. This new outlook reflects the new and exciting era of research in astrobiology such as the Kepler mission rapidly discovering new extrasolar planets, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission to Mars that will tell us more about the possibility of life on Mars extant and extinct, and new findings suggesting that lakes rather than a vast ocean exists beneath the surface of Europa.
 The New Face of the International journal of Astrobiology Rocco L. Mancinelli, Editor-in-Chief
The International Journal of Astrobiology has major changes occurring. We have a new face in the form of a new cover design, new chief editorship, an enlarged and broadened editorial board and most importantly a new outlook for the journal. This new outlook reflects the new and exciting era of research in astrobiology such as the Kepler mission rapidly discovering new extrasolar planets, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission to Mars that will tell us more about the possibility of life on Mars extant and extinct, and new findings suggesting that lakes rather than a vast ocean exists beneath the surface of Europa.
Last Updated (Sunday, 29 April 2012 15:43)
UKSBA meetingUK Space Biology Association (UKSBA) announces the: UK SPACE ENVIRONMENTS CONFERENCE
“UK Research & Education for Space & Terrestrial Benefit”
Venue: Satrosphere Science Centre, Aberdeen
Dates: 16-17th June 2012
The UK Space Biomedicine Association invites you to the inaugural UK Space Environments Conference. This is the only conference in the UK where the opportunity exists to learn from and meet representatives of organisations currently participating in Space Environments research and education. It represents a unique opportunity to:
• Showcase current activities in fields such as Space Biomedicine, Astrobiology and Microgravity Physics.
• Interact and collaborate with pioneers & colleagues from other disciplines involved in research and development associated with different aspects of the space environment.
• Discuss the future and direction of UK involvement in human spaceflight related activities
Keynote speakers include:
Dr Jeff Davis, Director of Space Life Science and Medical Operations for NASA
Prof. Charles Cockell, Professor of Astrobiology at Edinburgh University
Tickets can be purchased through the conference website at http://uskba.org/conference and come to £81 for professionals and £57 for students.
Please contact the conference team on
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
for further details.
UK SPACE ENVIRONMENTS CONFERENCE
“UK Research & Education for Space & Terrestrial Benefit”
Venue: Satrosphere Science Centre, Aberdeen
Dates: 16-17th June 2012
 The UK Space Biomedicine Association invites you to the inaugural UK Space Environments Conference. This is the only conference in the UK where the opportunity exists to learn from and meet representatives of organisations currently participating in Space Environments research and education. It represents a unique opportunity to: • Showcase current activities in fields such as Space Biomedicine, Astrobiology and Microgravity Physics.
• Interact and collaborate with pioneers & colleagues from other disciplines involved in research and development associated with different aspects of the space environment.
• Discuss the future and direction of UK involvement in human spaceflight related activities
Keynote speakers include:
Dr Jeff Davis, Director of Space Life Science and Medical Operations for NASA
Prof. Charles Cockell, Professor of Astrobiology at Edinburgh University
Tickets, at £81 for professionals and £57 for students, can be purchased through the conference website.
Please contact the conference team on
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
for further details.
Last Updated (Monday, 14 May 2012 12:54) Astrobiology conferencesThere are a number of international academic conferences throughout the year that are of relevance to astrobiology research. Run an internet search for the meetings in the calendar list below to find out more information on the exact dates and location of this year's conference, and also whether the organisers offer any support to students. April - European Geosciences Union General Assembly
August - Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society
August - Goldschmidt Conference
October - European Workshop on Astrobiology (EANA)
December - American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting
BIENNIAL conferences:
April, even years - Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon)
December, even years - Gordon Research Conference on the Origin of Life
Every 3 years:
August 2012 - International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly
ANNUAL conferences:
April - European Geosciences Union General Assembly
August - Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society
August - Goldschmidt Conference
October - European Workshop on Astrobiology (EANA)
December - American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting
BIENNIAL conferences:
April, even years - Astrobiology Society of Britain conference
April, even years - Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon)
December, even years - Gordon Research Conference on the Origin of Life
Every 3 years:
August 2012 - International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly
Last Updated (Friday, 10 February 2012 14:30) |
