Summer school
"Impacts and their Role in the Evolution of Life"
Saaremaa,Estonia, 25 July - 3 August 2017


General information

The course "Impacts and their Role in the Evolution of Life" will take place from 25 July to 3 August 2017 at Kuressaare and the Kaali impact crater site on the island of Saaremaa, Estonia. It aims to give students a thorough introduction in the role of meteorite and comets impacts in the formation of Earth, its atmosphere and the evolution of life. The course consists of lectures, pratical exercises and student-led discussions. Participants will also have the possibility to display their own research results in two poster sessions.The Stockholm University Astrobiology Centre, , the European Astrobiology Campus, the University of Tartu and the Nordic Network of Astrobiology will function as co-organisers of the course and the following subjects will be covered by the lectures:

  • Roles of impacts in the formation of habitable planets
  • Physical and chemical properties of comets and meteorites
  • Detection and investigation of impact craters by geological methods and remote sensing from space
  • Ecological consequences of impacts and the role of impacts in mass extinctions
  • Transfer of life through meteorite impacts
  • Threat of life on our planet by near-Earth asteroids and comets

The lecture programme will be complemented by practical exercises concerning:

  • Electromagnetic mapping of impact sites
  • Analysis of pollen indicators of the Kaali impact event.
  • Microscopy of impactites
  • Georadar profiling at Kaali

Participants will also have the possibility to display their own research results in two poster sessions. Furthermore, excursions to geologically interesting sites like the Panga cliffs.


Eligible participants

The event is aimed for graduate (masters and Ph. D.) students and early career scientists (up to 5 years after their first Ph. D. in a related field) in fields relevant to astrochemistry and astrobiology. The event is open to applicants from all nationalities. Detailed information about the summer school and the application procedure (deadline 30 April 2017) can be found here. Please see the Application page for details about the application.


Course fees and bursaries

BREAKING NEWS: Bursaries covering meals and accommodation are avalable for a number of students from most European Countries, namely those participating in the COST Action "Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth and in the Universe". An updated list of countries taking part in this COST Action can be found here. There is no special application for these bursaries necessary. Recipients of bursaries will be selected shortlyafter the deadline. Students and scientists affiliated to the institutions participating in the European Astrobiology Campus (Stockholm University, Open University and the Universities of Porto, Bordeaux, Tartu, Vilnius, Tallinn, Utrecht, Iceland ant Turku. will be offered greatly reduced fees are also entitled to a travel refund up to EUR 360,- (dependent on the distance from their home institutions to Kuressaare). Thus, applications by such people are greatly encouraged. The following course fees apply (prices in EUR):

´ ´
Course fees cover
  • Dinners and lunches and coffee breaks from 24 July 2017 evening to 3 August evening.
  • Served breakfasts for people living at hotels - for those at the Ruubi Kodu hostel we will fill the fridge in the hostel with some stuff for breakfast
  • Excursions and exercises
  • Course material
European Astrobiology Campus institutions are Stockholm University, Open university and the Universities of Porto, Bordeaux, Tartu, Vilnius, Tallinn, Utrecht, Iceland ant Turku. Eligible and selected participants from EAC institutions are also entitled to a travel refund up to EUR 360,- (dependent on the distance from their home institutions to Kuressaare).


Meeting venue

Lectures and poster sessions will take place in the Georg Ots Spa Hotel in Kuressaare, Estonia. The venue is only a 5 min taxi ride from the Roomassaare Airport and an 800m walk from Kuressaare bus station. Accommodation for participants will be either at this hotel or at the Ruubi Kodu hostel (which is very close to the bus station). Exercises will take place at the Kaali crater site, with the Kaali school functioning as a field site. Please see the Venue & Access page for details.


Confirmed lecturers



Alexis Brandeker, Stockholm University Astrobiology Centre, Sweden
Bethany Ehlmann, Caltech, USA
Ludovic Ferrière, Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria
Henning Haack, Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, USA
Martin Hilchenbach, Max Planck Institute for Solar system Research, Germany
Argo Jõ eleht, University of Tartu, Estonia
Kalle Kirsimäe;, University of Tartu, Estonia
Anna Łosiak, Polish Academy of Sciences
Zita Martins, Imperial College, UK
Stephen McLoughlin, National Museum of Natural History, Sweden
Karen Meech, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, USA
Jüri Plado, University of Tartu, Estonia
Vivi Vajda, National Museum of Natural History, Sweden
Wolf Geppert, Stockholm University Astrobiology Centre, Sweden



Organisers

The event will be organised by the Nordic Network of Astrobiology. Dr. Wolf Geppert from Stockholm University will serve as the main contact person. The organisers are looking forward to welcoming you at the course. See you in Kuressaare in July 2017!


Application

Deadline for application is the 30 April 2017.Please see the Application page for details about the application.


Tere tulemast Eestisse!