Supported by:
Participating institutions:
The astrobiology-related research at Lund University focus on questions
related to the biotic response to asteroid/meteorite impacts on Earth.
Examples of questions include the marine and terrestrial sediments across
the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary (65 million years ago) where pollen
analyses supplemented by geochemical and geomagnetic studies of my
research group, have been instrumental in resolving several questions
concerning this mass-extinction event. We are now using this results as
a proxy for investigating the patterns of biological and environmental
changes in order to resolve the causes behind other, enigmatic
mass-extinction and radiation events in Earth's history and we have
recently, together with Scientists at NASA HQ, in Washington DC detected
new impact craters on Earth and are presently mapping the biotic signal
connected to these events.
Another question relates to one of the most dramatic times on Earth the
Silurian-Devonian (ca. 400 Ma) when the evolution of terrestrial
vegetation lead to the plants colonisation of land. We are studying
the effects on the atmospheric O2 and CO2 levels. Sedimentological,
geochemical and paleontological studies have revealed exceptional
alterations in seawater chemistry, sedimentology and biodiversity
showing that the Silurian period was characterised by dramatic
environmental changes indicated from positive 13C and 18O deviations.
At Lund University also a research theme "Astrobiology: past, present, and future" is carried out by the interdisciplinary Pufendorf Institute . The programme at the Institute
aims at strengthening and further developing research at Lund University
related to astrobiology. It also will strengthen both research and
education in astrobiology at Lund University and further involves the
third mission, with dissemination of knowledge of through public
communication and engagement, in the form of popular science articles,
lectures and through media communication.
Scientists from several institutions are involved in the programme and
efforts concentrate on three focus themes: Exoplanets and their
Environments, The Emergence of Life and History and Philosophy of
Astrobiology. Workshops on several themes have been held at the
Institute and excursions to astrobiologically interesting geological
sites have been organised.
