Projects per year
Abstract
The UK Centre for Astrobiology (UKCA) was set up in 2011 as a virtual center to contribute to astrobiology research, education, and outreach. After 5 years, we describe this center and its work in each of these areas. Its research has focused on studying life in extreme environments, the limits of life on Earth, and implications for habitability elsewhere. Among its research infrastructure projects, UKCA has assembled an underground astrobiology laboratory that has hosted a deep subsurface planetary analog program, and it has developed new flow-through systems to study extraterrestrial aqueous environments. UKCA has used this research backdrop to develop education programs in astrobiology, including a massive open online course in astrobiology that has attracted over 120,000 students, a teacher training program, and an initiative to take astrobiology into prisons. In this paper, we review these activities and others with a particular focus on providing lessons to others who may consider setting up an astrobiology center, institute, or science facility. We discuss experience in integrating astrobiology research into teaching and education activities.
Original language | English |
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Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | Astrobiology |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 29 Jan 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 29 Jan 2018 |
Keywords
- Astrobiology
- Centre
- Education
- Analog research
- Subsurface
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- 3 Finished
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Exploration of Mars – Where can technology take us?
Cousins, C. R. (PI)
1/01/17 → 31/12/17
Project: Other
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Chemolithotrophs on Mars: metabolic: Chemolithotrophs on Mars: metabolic pathways and biosignatures
Cousins, C. R. (PI) & Zerkle, A. L. (CoI)
Science & Technology Facilities Council
1/10/16 → 31/03/20
Project: Standard
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Scientific Integration and Exploitation: Scientific Integration and Exploitation of ExoMars PanCam, ISEM and CLUPI
Cousins, C. R. (PI) & Claire, M. (CoI)
Science & Technology Facilities Council
1/07/16 → 29/03/20
Project: Standard