OU to host Astrobiology Society of Britain Conference 2017

Posted on 28 August 2017 • Space

The Astrobiology Society of Britain (ASB) Conference series continues its objective of education and outreach for UK astrobiology research with its seventh annual conference. Hosted at the OU in Milton Keynes, ASB7 will focus on habitability beyond the Earth. The Conference will begin at 10:30 on Wednesday 13 September 2017, with talks on biosignatures, ground-based simulation, and remote-sensing observations of habitability.

Confirmed keynote speakers include: Charles Cockell (University of Edinburgh / UKCA); Frances Westall (CNRS, Orlèans); Mark Sephton (Imperial College London)

Barrie Jones Award Lecture

As part of the Conference, the Barrie Jones Award Lecture will be presented to Dr Louisa Preston. The Award recognises an individual’s outstanding contribution to society through outreach activities relating to astrobiology. It was established by the School of Physical Sciences in partnership with the ASB with the legacy of the late Barrie Jones (1941–2014), an astrobiologist who dedicated much of his career to public engagement and outreach.

Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of STEM at The Open University, Dr Manish Patel, is President of the Astrobiology Society of Britain; he said:

“Astrobiology in the UK, and particularly at the OU, is flourishing – we are deeply involved in the ExoMars TGO mission, which is currently orbiting Mars and will search for signs of life, and we are also looking forward to an exciting astrobiology Rover mission in the near future. This world-leading research is inspiring the next generation of UK scientists.

“We are very pleased to have Dr Preston as this year’s recipient of the Barrie Jones Award. We will be celebrating the excellent work she has accomplished in astrobiology outreach and we are very much looking forward to hearing her talk on Search for Life in the Universe.”

More information is available on the ASB website.