Origins of Life Mini Symposium

Origins of Life Mini Symposium

AM103, Alan MacDiarmid Building, Victoria University of Wellington


Are you interested in astrobiology, extreme environments, early life or planetary science? Join us for short talks and a round-table discussion in a hybrid mini symposium on the research in this space in NZ and beyond. Specialists, interested non-specialists, and students are all welcome.

Symposium programme

TimeSpeaker(s)Title

10 am

Yvette Perrott (THW-VUW), Morgan Cable (THW-VUW), Kathy Campbell (UoA), Katherine Dzurilla (NASA-JPL/Caltech)

Welcome and introductions

10.10 am

Kathy Campbell (UoA)

Hot Springs and the Search for Early Life on Earth and Mars: Overview of UoA Earth Science Research on Extreme Environments

10:35 am

Morgan Cable (THW-VUW)

Searching for Evidence of Life and Interesting Chemistry at Ocean Worlds

11 am

Katherine Dzurilla (NASA-JPL/Caltech)

Prebiotic Chemistry in Planetary Environments

11.25 am

Haritina Mogosanu and Sam Leske (NZAN)

Combating the Insignificance Effect: Astrobiology, Agency, and the Future of Life

11.50 am

--- Morning break ---

Noon

Hoani Hakaraia (NZSA)

Support for space science in NZ

12.10 pm

--- Lunch break ---

1.15 pm

Sarah Kessans (UC), Catherine Qualtrough (UoA), Haritina Mogosanu (NZAN)

Panel discussion: The role of astrobiology in space science in NZ and on the global stage

1.45 pm

--- Afternoon break 1 ---

2 pm

Courtney Ennis (U. Otago)

Laboratory simulation of cocrystal chemistry: efficient synthesis of complex organic molecules

2.25 pm

Barb Lyon (UoA)

An Evolving Understanding of Biosignature Preservation in Siliceous Sinters

2.50 pm

Mila Adam (UoA)

Looking for Water-Ice on the Moon and Mars Using Seismic Waves

3.15 pm

--- Afternoon break 2 ---

3.30 pm

Kathy Campbell (UoA), Katherine Dzurilla (NASA-JPL/Caltech), Morgan Cable (THW-VUW), Courtney Ennis (U. Otago)

Panel discussion: Possible origins of life on other worlds and avoiding Earth biases

4 pm

--- Adjourn---

Please contact us for more information or if you’d like to give a talk, either in person or virtually: