Astrobiology from early-career scientists’ perspective

Abstract

What is astrobiology? Which fields does it comprise and what makes an astrobiologist? Ask five scientists and you may end up with six different definitions. This issue was raised at the first symposium of the European network of Astrobiology Graduates (AbGradE), held last year in Edinburgh, when discussing whether the attendees' fields of study were represented in the astrobiology community.

Reaching out to early-career astrobiologists: AbGradE's actions and perspectives

“…This symposium was also intended as an informal networking event set at the same location of, and just before, the annual conference of EANA. It even led to the production of a reflective piece on the vision of astrobiology from ECAs’ perspective (Noack et al , 2015). From 2014 on, AbGradE organized an event dedicated to ECAs right before every EANA meeting.…”

Special issue: Open questions and next steps in astrobiology in Europe – celebrating 20 years of EANA

“…Stimulated by the annual EANA meetings, European early-career astrobiologists founded an independent but EANA-affiliated association called Astrobiology Graduates in Europe (AbGradE) in 2014. AbGradE organizes symposia and workshops during which, among others, scientific sessions, keynote lectures, and networking are held (Noack et al ., 2015). In 2013, the European AstRoMap project organized a survey of the astrobiology science community in Europe and beyond, developing the first European roadmap for astrobiology research and producing a detailed profile of the European astrobiology community (Horneck et al ., 2016).…”

What's in a name: the etymology of astrobiology

“…Amidst this motley crowd of early references to astrobiology, one other work stands out to some extent, which was briefly noted in Noack et al . (2015). The work in question is Limanora: The Island of Progress , a science-fiction novel written by Godfrey Sweven in 1903 (Sweven, 1903).…”