The origin of life, on Earth and elsewhere, is a topic which fascinates the public. It is ideally suited to bring scientists from various disciplines together. On August 31 and September 1 a two-day symposium Fundamentals of Life in the Universe will cover a wide spectrum of topics with NIOO-scientist Marcel Visser as one of the speakers.

From planetary evolution to the fabrication of synthetic cells: a wide spectrum indeed. The complete list of topics of the meeting is:

1. The origin of the Earth and of life
2. Predicting the evolution of life
3. Building and directing life from molecule to biosphere
4. Life in extraterrestrial environments
5. Emergence and bridging of temporal and spatial scales

Head of the NIOO Department of Animal Ecology Marcel Visser will talk about the evolution on a changing planet.

Besides invited talks, the conference includes a keynote lecture by Ben Feringa (2016 Nobel laureate in Chemistry), and a public lecture by Charley Lineweaver. We expect 150-200 participants from the fields of chemistry, geosciences, biology, astronomy, and physics. Participants will be able to present their own research in the form of posters in a dedicated session. The programme also includes opportunities for cross-disciplinary networking.

Programme, registration and deadlines: www.origins-symposium.nl

 

Logo design: Casper Farret