The UK Centre for Astrobiology: A Virtual Astrobiology Centre. Accomplishments and Lessons Learned, 2011-2016

Charles S Cockell; Beth Biller; Casey C. Bryce; Claire Cousins; Susana Direito; Duncan Forgan; Mark Fox-Powell; Jesse Harrison; Hanna Landenmark; Sophie L. Nixon; Samuel J Payler; Ken Rice; Toby Samuels; Petra Schwendner; Adam Stevens; Natasha Nicholson; Jennifer Wadsworth

doi:10.1089/ast.2017.1713

The UK Centre for Astrobiology: A Virtual Astrobiology Centre. Accomplishments and Lessons Learned, 2011-2016

Charles S Cockell, Beth Biller, Casey C. Bryce, Claire Cousins, Susana Direito, Duncan Forgan, Mark Fox-Powell, Jesse Harrison, Hanna Landenmark, Sophie L. Nixon, Samuel J Payler, Ken Rice, Toby Samuels, Petra Schwendner, Adam Stevens, Natasha Nicholson, Jennifer Wadsworth

School of Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract / Description of output

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. Key Words: Astrobiology-Centre-Education-Subsurface-Analog research. Astrobiology 18, xxx-xxx.

Original language	English
Journal	Astrobiology
Early online date	29 Jan 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2017.1713
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 29 Jan 2018

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Journal Article

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10.1089/ast.2017.1713

ast.2017.1713Final published version, 2.37 MB

The Search for Planetary Habitability
Cockell, C.
STFC
1/04/15 → 31/08/18
Project: Research

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Cockell, C. S., Biller, B., Bryce, C. C., Cousins, C., Direito, S., Forgan, D., Fox-Powell, M., Harrison, J., Landenmark, H., Nixon, S. L., Payler, S. J., Rice, K., Samuels, T., Schwendner, P., Stevens, A., Nicholson, N., & Wadsworth, J. (2018). The UK Centre for Astrobiology: A Virtual Astrobiology Centre. Accomplishments and Lessons Learned, 2011-2016. Astrobiology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2017.1713

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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. Key Words: Astrobiology-Centre-Education-Subsurface-Analog research. Astrobiology 18, xxx-xxx.",

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Cockell, CS , Biller, B, Bryce, CC, Cousins, C, Direito, S, Forgan, D, Fox-Powell, M, Harrison, J, Landenmark, H, Nixon, SL, Payler, SJ, Rice, K, Samuels, T, Schwendner, P, Stevens, A, Nicholson, N & Wadsworth, J 2018, 'The UK Centre for Astrobiology: A Virtual Astrobiology Centre. Accomplishments and Lessons Learned, 2011-2016', Astrobiology. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2017.1713

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AU - Cockell, Charles S

AU - Biller, Beth

AU - Bryce, Casey C.

AU - Cousins, Claire

AU - Direito, Susana

AU - Forgan, Duncan

AU - Fox-Powell, Mark

AU - Harrison, Jesse

AU - Landenmark, Hanna

AU - Nixon, Sophie L.

AU - Payler, Samuel J

AU - Rice, Ken

AU - Samuels, Toby

AU - Schwendner, Petra

AU - Stevens, Adam

AU - Nicholson, Natasha

AU - Wadsworth, Jennifer

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N2 - 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. Key Words: Astrobiology-Centre-Education-Subsurface-Analog research. Astrobiology 18, xxx-xxx.

AB - 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. Key Words: Astrobiology-Centre-Education-Subsurface-Analog research. Astrobiology 18, xxx-xxx.

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DO - 10.1089/ast.2017.1713

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SN - 1531-1074

JO - Astrobiology

JF - Astrobiology

ER -

The UK Centre for Astrobiology: A Virtual Astrobiology Centre. Accomplishments and Lessons Learned, 2011-2016

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Projects

The Search for Planetary Habitability

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