European Astrobiology Institute (EAI)
Scientific Structures
European Astrobiology Institute (EAI)
Space Science
Image:
European Astrobiology Institute
Mission
The European Astrobiology Institute (EAI) is a consortium of European research and higher education institutions and organisations as well as other stakeholders aiming to carry out research, training, outreach and dissemination activities in astrobiology in a comprehensive and coordinated manner and thereby securing a leading role for the European Research Area in the field. The EAI is an Expert Board hosted and administered by the European Science Foundation.
As such, the EAI aims to:
- Perform ground-breaking research on key scientific questions in astrobiology (which will be periodically reviewed) requiring a cooperative interdisciplinary approach
- Disseminate high-quality results of such research efforts effectively across the scientific community
- Provide interdisciplinary training for students and early career scientists in astrobiology
- Engage in education in the field of astrobiology on all levels
- Liaise with industry to foster collaborations on technological developments that are relevant to astrobiology research and beneficial to Europe as a whole
- Coordinate the outreach activities of European astrobiologists to the general public, industry and all other relevant stakeholders
- Act as an advisory body and provide high-quality expertise to European research organisations and decision makers on all aspects of astrobiology at the European level
- Ensure the necessary financial means to carry out these activities through a coordinated approach to European funding agencies including Horizon programmes
Membership and Structure
The EAI is governed by a Management Committee, which was elected at the First General Assembly at Liblice, on 30 May 2019.
EAI Management Committee
Chair:
- Wolf D. Geppert (Stockholm University, Sweden)
Vice-Chairs:
- Muriel Gargaud (Université Bordeaux-CNRS, France)
- John Brucato (Istituto Nazional di Astrofisica, Italy)
Leaders of the Scientific Working Groups
- Planetary Environments and Habitability: Ana Catalina Plesa (DLR, Germany)
- Biosignatures and the Detection of Life beyond Earth: Jean-Pierre de Vera (German Aerospace Center – DLR, Germany)
- Historical, Philosophical, Societal and Ethical Issues in Astrobiology: David Dunér (Lund University, Sweden)
- The Path to Complexity - From Simple Molecules to First Life: Thomas Henning (Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Germany)
- Evolution and Traces of Early Life and Life under Extreme Conditions: Emmanuelle Javaux (University of Liège, Belgium)
- Formation and Evolution of Planetary system and Detection of Habitable Worlds: Ewa Szuszkiewicz (University of Szczecin, Poland)
Leaders of the Activity Working Groups
- Dissemination and Intellectial Output: Muriel Gargaud (Université Bordeaux-CNRS, France)
- Field Work and Field Site Management: Akos Kereszturi (Konkoly Observatory, Hungary)
- European Astrobiology Campus: Kalle Kirsimäe (Tartu University-EAC, Estonia)
- Access to European Research Infrastructures and Analysis Facilities: Jose Antonio Rodriguez Manfredi (Centro de Astrobiología, Spain)
- Funding and Policy: Nigel Mason (Open University-Europlanet, UK)
- Education: Riho Motlep (University of Tartu, Estonia)
- Outreach, Media and Corporate Identity: Julie Nekola Novaková (Charles University, Czech Republic)
Host Organisation Representative
- Nicolas Walter (European Science Foundation, France)
Funders
The work of the EAI is financially supported by the following entities:
Core Organisations (in alphabetical order):
- CAB-CSIC (Spain)
- CNES (France)
- CNRS (France)
- DLR (Germany)
- FNRS (Belgium)
- INAF (Italy)
Participating Institutions (by countries):
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium)
- University of Liège (Belgium)
- Charles University Prague (Czech Republic)
- University of Tartu (Estonia)
- University of Paris-Est Creteil (France)
- University of Paris Sorbonne (France)
- University of Bordeaux (France)
- Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (Germany)
- Free University Berlin (Germany)
- Konkoly Observatory (Hungary)
- Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse - CNR (Italy)
- University of Bologna (Italy)
- University of Szczecin (Poland)
- Nicolaus Copernicus University (Poland)
- Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso, IITAA, University of the Azores (Portugal)
- Lund University (Sweden)
- Stockholm University (Sweden)
- Open University (UK)
- University of Kent (UK)
ESF’s expertise
ESF services aim to facilitate EAI's mission and cover the following areas: governance and coordination, invoicing and general expenses management, support of the Management Committee and preparation of the General Assembly; social media and website management; interaction and support to working groups and project teams, aid with events planning and coordination.
Mari Kolehmainen
Project Officer
Related news
NGI Sargasso
Unique collaborative ecosystem and programme for promoting the transatlantic cooperation in NGI technologies
ASTRAIOS
Analysis of Skills, Training, Research, And Innovation Opportunities in Space
MultiMiner
Multi-source and Multi-scale Earth observation and Novel Machine Learning Methods for Mineral Exploration and Mine Site Monitoring
Discover other structures and networks!
DIAMAS
Developing Institutional Open Access Publishing Models to Advance Scholarly Communication
TIME4CS
Supporting sustainable Institutional Changes to promote Citizen Science in Science and Technology
UniSAFE
Gender-based violence and institutional responses: Building a knowledge base and operational tools to make universities and research organisations safe
SUPPORTER
SecUring sPORTs Education thRough innovative and inclusive Gender Equality Plans
RESIST
Regions for climate change resilience through Innovation, Science and Technology