Who: Principally 1st and 2nd year physics postgraduate researchers with an interest in space exploration, astrobiology or planetary science.
What: A 2-day residential workshop that describes the background science and current advances in the fields of astrobiology and planetary science, with a focus on the exploration and search for life on Mars.
When: 27-28 November 2019
Where: The Open University, Milton Keynes
Numbers: Circa 25-30 delegates
Astrobiology has gained great momentum in the 21st century prompted in part by discoveries of large numbers of extrasolar planets, while closer to home Mars exploration is in a golden era: two NASA missions are operating on the surface, and orbiting missions from several agencies are ongoing. Two further NASA and ESA Rover missions will launch in 2020.
This workshop will focus on new data from the latest NASA and ESA missions — Mars Science Laboratory, InSight, and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter — and the preparations that are being made for the 2020 ESA ExoMars Rover mission.
It will cover geophysics, geology, atmospheric physics and astrobiology, and why interdisciplinarity is vital for exploration and the search for life on Mars.
The workshop provides advanced training for students and will stimulate work by all participants, acting as an incubator of collaborative research across SEPnet.
There will be plenty of time for informal conversations and a workshop dinner.
This event is free (SEPnet pays for your accommodation and course fees) for SEPnet postgraduate researchers and travel expenses incurred can be claimed from your Physics Department.
Register here. Registration deadline: 30 October 2019