NAI - Nordic Summer school: “Water, Ice and the Origin of Life in the Universe”

When June 29, 2009 (Mon) ~ July 13, 2009 (Mon)

Where Iceland

Iceland, 29 June to 13 July 2009

The NASA Astrobiology Institute and the Nordic Astrobiology Network will conduct a summer school on the role of water in the evolution of life in the cosmos in Iceland on the above dates. The school is intended for students and post-docs in astrobiology-related subjects (biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geosciences etc.) The school will be organized in three sections:

• An introductory lecture course
• Excursions to several places in Iceland of astrobiological interest (hot springs, glaciers, geysers, Mars-like landscapes)
• A lab course on the geochemistry and extremophile population of hot springs (no previous experience in microbiological lab work and field research needed)

The school will be able to accept around 40 students. Those accepted from the US and the Nordic countries (including the Baltic States and Northwestern Russia) will be provided lodging, meals, study material and the complete excursion and teaching programme without charge as well as some reimbursement for travel expenses. Some funding is also available for a limited number of participants from other countries. Participants from Europe will be awarded 4 ECTS points for the summer school; formal course credit may also be available for US students.

Further information about the summer school and application instructions are available on-line at http://www.nordicastrobiology.net/iceland2009