National Astronomy Week 2020

Have you ever wondered if there is life on Mars? Join the Astrobiology group at the Open University and The Observatory Science Centre to learn about the conditions for life on Mars, get hands-on with some ideas for experiments and chat to real astrobiologists to answer all your questions about Alien life!

This event is mainly aimed at primary school students, but anyone is welcome to join.

**This event has run.  You can view a recording on our YouTube Channel by clicking here.

About the Speakers:

Prof. Karen Olsson-Francis: Karen is a Professor of Geomicrobiology and she works on life at the limits. She is interested in microorganisms that live in extreme environments here on Earth as well as the International Space Station. She works with environments on Earth that help our understanding of extraterrestrial locations.

Dr Mario Toubes-Rodrigo: Mario is trying to understand if life on Mars could exists and he must look at Mars-like environments on Earth to do so. His research focuses on one of these places; the very salty lakes in Canada. Mario investigates the gases that are produced in these lakes and compares them to the gases found on Mars.

Dr Alex Price:  Alex researches life on Mars by creating Mars-like environments in a lab. He has also been to the salt pans of Botswana to collect data from an environment on Earth, that can help us understand what it's like on Mars.

Miss Hannah Cooper:  Hannah is an environmental scientist and has studied a lot of different environments on Earth. She is more used to dealing with woodlice than aliens but she is excited to tell you about Mars.

Astrobiology OU: We are working together to understand how, and where, life might be found and to address the scientific, governance and ethical challenges faced by astrobiology-related exploration missions. 

Dr Sandra Voss:  Science Director at The Observatory Science Centre. Having studied for a PhD at The Royal Veterinary College I became a lecturer in the Department of Animal Husbandry. Following some time travelling around the world I moved to East Sussex where I studied Astronomy on the beginner's course at The Observatory Science Centre (OSC). I then became a volunteer for OSC and in 2003 took up the position of NAW coordinator which was based at OSC at the time. The temporary part-time position grew into the role as Science Director and my love of Astronomy grew with it. 

Hosts: Jo Fox (SpaceFund) and Ali Bruce (Dynamic Earth)