Letters of Intent received in 2021

LoI 2023-2141
Astrobiology 2023

Topics

Chemistry in Giant Molecular Clouds, Nebular Chemistry, Formation of Planetary Systems, Habitability at all scales, The Early Earth, When (and How) Does Life Arise?, Evolution of Life in Our Solar System and Beyond.

Rationale

Astrobiology is a rapidly evolving field of study, yet the last IAU Symposium on this topic occurred in 2008, and much has happened since that meeting. One significant development has been a plethora of Exoplanet observations that inform the probability of forming Earth-like planets in a habitable zone. In contrast, another has been the potential for life to occur well outside of traditional habitable zones under the surfaces of ice-covered moons such as Europa and Enceladus. The dynamics of bodies in evolving planetary systems result in planet growth, the delivery of water and organics to favorable environments, planetary migration, moon formation, and planetary destruction, all of which have significant consequences for the development and sustainability of life. Formation of the organic constituents of biological systems in pre-solar clouds, in the proto-solar nebula, or in planetary environments are essential steps on the path to life where significant new knowledge has emerged over the past decade.

On the other hand, at the same time, tremendous progress has been achieved in the field of prebiotic chemistry and concepts of early biology. These topics are an essential guide to lead our efforts to understand the origin of life and search for life beyond Earth. Yet, these critical topics may be out of the area of expertise of some IAU members and the broader astronomy community attending IAU symposia. Therefore, one main goal of this meeting will be to bring together the largest science community involved in astrobiology: including astronomy/astrophysics, planetology, geology, chemistry, biology as well as human sciences. To achieve this goal, we propose organizing a joint meeting with the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life (ISSOL), with which the IAU Astrobiology community already shares a common science community, although lacking some crucial perspective onto recent advances in chemistry and biology. Previous successful joint meetings between former IAU Bioastronomy commission and ISSOL already took place in 2011 (Montpellier, France) and 2014 (Nara, Japan). This joined meeting will also be beneficial for the carbon footprint of the astrobiology science community, because a number of colleagues can be tempted to attend both IAU and ISSOL meetings. This will constitute a step toward a more sustainable science.

Astrobiology 2023 will trace the pathway to life on Earth and beyond from the simple chemistry established in astrophysical environments such as GMCs and proto-stellar nebulae, through the concurrent of planetary systems and processes, from nebular collapse, planetary accretion, solar system evolution through tidal and other types of interactions, to the emerging life specific properties at the frontiers between chemistry and biology and beyond the beginnings of life as informed by studies of the very earliest terrestrial fossil record, taking into account the latest advances in all of these areas. Moreover, Astrobiology 2023 will take advantage of our location in South America to hold a training school for local graduate students, postdocs and teachers who may wish to learn more about this evolving field and, in the case of teachers, may wish to incorporate the latest advances into their curricula.

Commission F3 (Astrobiology) has received personal support for this symposium proposal from Maria Antonella Barucci, president of Division F. We will contact other divisions and commissions as soon as our arrangements with ISSOL will be finalized.

Astrobiology 2023 will therefore bring together the advances in this broad, interdisciplinary field over the last decade in Astrophysics, Chemistry, Planetary Science, and the Life Sciences to illustrate both the state of current knowledge and the areas where our understanding is incomplete. It will also involve local South American researchers, students, and teachers who can participate in this exciting research area and carry their enthusiasm and new knowledge back to their students and colleagues at their universities