ESA Brainstorming on Astrobiology - Pilot Event 2023

OVERVIEW

During October 2023, the inaugural edition of our ESA Brainstorming on Astrobiology took place at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC). This hybrid event, over five days, brought together participants from across Europe and facilitated communication among experts from diverse disciplinary backgrounds. To highlight the diversity of topics covered, each day featured a different focus, with a respective keynote speaker. Throughout the week, discussions unfolded on various aspects, including astrobiological processes, exocomets, extrasolar planets, habitability from a galactic perspective but also the importance of public communication. Our pilot event introduced several innovations while building upon existing strengths. These included experimenting with modern unconference approaches, connecting experts from different disciplines within the multifaceted field of astrobiology, fostering engagement between scientists from various ESA Directorates and the community, and enhancing transparency regarding how ESA operates and supports the community. In conclusion, the quantitative and qualitative feedback we collected affirms that it was a successful and well-received experiment, allowing us to draw lessons learnt and continue to improve for future events.

Programme

MATERIAL

The keynote speakers' videos will be published on the YouTube channel of ESA Science.

Participants

IN PERSON (ALPHABETICAL):

REMOTE (ALPHABETICAL):

Hervé Cottin (LISA/UPEC, FR)
Nicolas Crouzet (Leiden Observatory, NL)
Daniela Billi (University of Rome Tor Vergata, IT)
Lucas Bourmancé (Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, FR)
Jean Pierre Paul de Vera (German Aerospace Center (DLR), DE)
Niloofar Feshangsaz (Janssen Biologics, NL)
Bernard Foing (EuroSpaceHub Academy, LUNEX, Leiden Observatory, NL)
Wolf Geppert (Stockholm University, SE)
Adrienne Kish (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, FR)
Cara Magnabosco (ETH Zürich, CH)
Eva Mateo-Marti (Centro de Astrobiologia (CAB) - CSIC/INTA, ES)
Johan Mazoyer (LESIA / Observatoire de Paris, FR)
Julie Nekola Nováková (Charles University (Prague, CZ)
Isabella Pagano (INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania, IT)
Iratxe Población (University of the Basque Country, ES)
Don Pollacco (University of Warwick, UK)
Sascha Quanz (ETH Zürich, CH)
Sudeshna Boro Saikia (University of Vienna, AT)
Ruth-Sophie Taubner (Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, AT)
Frances Westall (CNRS-Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, FR)

Mickael Baqué (German Aerospace Center (DLR), DE)
Adriana Blachowicz (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, US)
Sarah Casewell (University of Leicester, UK)
Charles Cockell (University of Edinburgh, UK)
Marta Cortesao (German Aerospace Center (DLR), DE)
Rosa de la Torre Noetzel (Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial INTA, ES)
Dimitra Demertzi (Radboud University, NL)
Andreas Elsaesser (Freie Universitaet Berlin, DE)
Ligia Fonseca Coelho (Cornell University, US)
Taras Gerya (ETH Zürich, CH) - Team Sapphire
John Lee Grenfell (German Aerospace Center (DLR), DE)
Nader Haghighipour (University of Hawaii and Planetary Science Institute, US)
J G Gokula Krishnan (Anna University, India)
Jorge Lillo-Box (Centro de Astrobiologia (CAB) - CSIC/INTA, ES)
Arturo Lira Barria (KU Leuven, BE)
Zita Martins (Instituto Superior Tecnico, PT)
Afonso Mota (German Aerospace Center (DLR), DE)
Hugo Moors (SCK CEN, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, BE)
Rosa Santomartino (UK Centre for Astrobiology, University of Edinburgh, UK)
Gwenael Van Looveren (University of Vienna, AT)
Vassilissa Vinogradoff (CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, FR)

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

Mariasole Agazzi1
Nicol Caplin1
Quentin Changeat3
Willi Exner1
Salma Fahmy1
Maximilian N. Günther1 (Chair)
Laura Hayes1
Ana Heras1
Gaitee Hussain1
Markus Kissler-Patig2
Theresa Lüftinger1
Bruno Merín2
Daniel Pardekooper1
Isabel Rebollido Vázquez4
Emily Rickman3
Elliot Sefton-Nash1
Jorge Vago1
Olivier Witasse1