Talk will explore the search for life beyond Earth
A leading Open University expert will reveal how studying extreme environments on Earth plays a vital role in planning life-detection space missions at a free talk in Leicester.
Professor Karen Olsson-Francis is best known for her work focussing on microorganisms that live in extreme environments, including the International Space Station.
The highly-respected microbiologist is set to bring her talk, ‘Living Life at the Limits,’ to Space Park Leicester, the University of Leicester’s £100 million science and innovation park, next month.
Research Engineer John Holt, of Space Park Leicester and the University of Leicester’s School of Physics and Astronomy, said: “Karen is a leading expert in this field, and this is a fantastic opportunity to benefit from her huge wealth of knowledge and expertise.
“Her talk will look at environments on Earth that are so extreme that scientists use them to study extra-terrestrial environments.
“In astrobiology, locations are selected because they can give scientists and researchers clues on what extra-terrestrial life may look like and what evidence they should search for.
“Sites include everything from vast salty deserts that can be used to study the surface of present-day Mars to glaciers that can be used to study icy moons.
“Karen’s talk should not be missed by anyone who is interested in this field of research.”
Karen is the Director of AstrobiologyOU, an interdisciplinary group based at the Open University that aims to address the scientific, governance and ethical challenges associated with the advancement of astrobiology and related space exploration missions.
She is also the UK representative on the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Panel of Planetary Protection and a member of the Space Park Leicester Advisory Board.
The ‘Living Life at the Limits’ talk will start at 10am on Friday, April 25, at Space Park Leicester.
To book a free place for the talk, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/living-life-at-the-limits-tickets-1284071635829
To learn more about the University of Leicester visit https://le.ac.uk/uk/.
Main image: The Makgadikgadi salt pans in Botswana: an analogue for early Mars.