Detailed information about the course

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Title

Astrobiology: Development of Tools for Assessing the Presence of Microbial Life Outside Planet Earth

Dates

7-8 September 2023

Organizer(s)

Dr Saskia Bindschedler, UNINE 

Dr Mathilda Fatton, UNIBE

Speakers

- Prof. Émeline Bolmont, UNIGE

- Prof. Susanne Wampfler (CSH-UNIBE)

- Dr Mathilda Fatton, UNIBE

- Dr Lucas Patty 

- Dr Tomaso Bontognali, Space-X & Uni Basel

Description

The possibility of finding life beyond the Earth has always fascinated humans. Novel developments on planetary exploration are starting to create the conditions for the assessment of the presence of life in Earth's near vicinity. However, the search for life elsewhere requires a deep understanding of life on Earth, and the nature of the environments that support it. In addition, this must be complemented by an understanding of planetary system and stellar interactions and processes. Therefore, the topic is intrinsically interdisciplinary and requires the combined skills and knowledge of multiple disciplines. The goal of this 2-day course is to provide the principles of such interdisciplinary knowledge first by lectures on: - Diversity of microbial habitats akin to extraterrestrial environments, as well as the diversity of their inhabitants. - Discovering potentially habitable exoplanets - Characterising exoplanet atmospheric composition and dynamics In addition, a practical session will be devoted to training in methods for detecting life remotely in the solar system and beyond.

Program

Final program:

Day 1 – Sept 7 (Faculty of Science, room B104 & Botanical garden, Neuchâtel)

08:30-09:00

Registration & welcome coffee

09:00-10:00

Dr Lucas Patty & Dr Mathilda Fatton (UniBE) - SenseLife project : interdisciplinarity with a mix of astrophysics and microbiology

10:00-10:30

Coffee break

10:30-12:00

Group 1: Practical part in the lab

Group 2: Personal work on a presentation based on a selection of papers

12:00-13:30

Lunch break at Microcity

13:30-15:00

Group 1: Personal work on a presentation based on a selection of papers

Group 2: Practical part in the lab

15:00-15:30

Walk to the botanical garden

15:30-16:00

Coffee break at the botanical garden

16:00-17:00

Dr Tomaso Bontognali (UniBAS & Space-X) - ExoMars mission: Seeking signs of life on Mars

17:00-18:30

Visit of the exhibition "Traces de vie", guided by Blaise Mulhauser (JBN), Saskia Bindschedler (UniNE), Mathilda Fatton (UniBE), T. Bontognali & J-L. Josset (Space-X).

18:30-20:00

Apero at the botanical garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2 – Sept 8 (Faculty of Science room B104, Neuchâtel)

09:00-10:00

Prof. Emeline Bolmont (UniGE) - Habitability of exoplanets and the search for life

10:00-10:30

Coffee break

10:30-13:30

Personal work on the presentations & lunch break with sandwiches EatEco

13:30-14:30

Prof. Susanne Wampfler (CSH-UniBE) - Astrochemistry: On the hunt for the building blocks of life in space

14:30-16:30

Presentation by the students (12min + 8min question/discussion) - coffee break

16:30-17:00

Last round table and concluding remarks

Location

University of Neuchâtel - Room B104

Information

Presentations

Participants will be asked to prepare a presentation to be given on day 2. For this, we will create beforehand groups of students/participants coming from different fields of expertise. We will ask them to combine their expertise and illustrate how their different field of work can be integrated in a project to detect life beyond Earth. A selection of papers provided by the speakers will be provided in advance to prepare for this and time for group work is allocated in the program.

Expenses

Reimbursements for CUSO students:

- Train ticket, 2°class, half-fare from your institution to the place of the activity.

Registration

Registration: close

Registration fee: Free for CUSO Microbiology PhD members. 150.- for non PhD members (plus travel expenses).

Deadline for registration :25.08.2023

Cancellation fee: 50.- if cancellation after the 25.08.23

Places

15

Deadline for registration 25.08.2023
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