VII Spanish influencers in science - Astrobiology

06 July 2023 · ·

Astrobiology: Life In Our Planet and Beyond

The Spanish Influencers in Science series, organized by Spanish Scientists in Belgium (CEBE) and supported by the Spanish Embassy in Belgium, the Ramón Areces Foundation, and the Cervantes Institute, is returning for its seventh edition on September 21, 2023, at 18:30 at the Cervantes Institute in Brussels. In this event, a Spanish researcher and a Belgian counterpart, will deliver a 20-minute popular science talk in English, followed by a conversation with the audience on astrobiology—the fascinating field that explores the possibilities of life beyond Earth.

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On the one hand, we will have Dr. Carlos Briones, a scientific researcher at CSIC in the Department of Molecular Evolution at the Center for Astrobiology (CAB, CSIC-INTA, associated with NASA's Astrobiology program). With a broad background in the field of astrobiology, his research group focuses on molecular evolution, collaborating on interdisciplinary research projects aimed at analyzing microbial biodiversity in extreme environments and detecting relevant prebiotic molecules in the interstellar medium. He has participated in numerous research projects and is the author of multiple articles and popular science books in the field of astrobiology. Additionally, he is a member of various executive boards (including the European Astrobiology Institute) and serves as the coordinator of the CSIC scientific contest "The Origins of Life: From Chemistry to Biology."

On the other hand, we will have Professor Emmanuelle Javaux, a researcher and full professor in the Department of Geology at the University of Liège. Her research group, Early Life Traces & Evolution-Astrobiology, is dedicated to studying the early stages of life and evolution in astrobiology. She is also a member of the European Astrobiology Institute. With an outstanding academic career, she has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work in the fields of paleobiology and astrobiology. In addition to leading national and international research projects, she plays important roles in scientific organizations and working groups related to astrobiology.