International Journal of Astrobiology 1 (3): 201–266 (2002) Printed in the United Kingdom 201 DOI: 10.1017/S1473550402001143 f 2002 Cambridge University Press Abstracts from the Second European Workshop on Exo/Astrobiology 16–19 September 2002 Graz, Austria Scientific objectives Since most European countries participate in ESA’s AURORA One of the main objectives of many of the international planetary ex- and ELIPS programmes, sessions dedicated to planetary and space ploration programmes of the twenty-first century is the search for traces exploration technologies relevant to Exo/Astrobiology are also organ- of present or fossil life in the solar system and beyond. Three possible ized. The main objective of the Workshop is to promote a constructive main candidates for the search for microbial life forms on a planetary and interdisciplinary scientific cooperation in the growing field of Exo/ body in the solar system were identified at the First European Workshop Astrobiology. More specifically, the Workshop aims to: on Exo/Astrobiology in May 2001 at ESA/ESRIN, Frascati, Italy. Present the latest results in the fast-developing fields of studying the Possible habitats are the surface and near subsurface of Mars, the origins of life, planetary exploration and the search for extra-solar putative subsurface water ocean of Jupiter’s moon Europa and – also planets related to Exo/Astrobiology. more speculative – the interior of Saturn’s largest satellite Titan. In . Favour the cooperation between scientists and research groups addition, Titan’s atmosphere and surface provide a reference laboratory of different scientific disciplines, like planetology, astronomy, to study, by default, the role of liquid water in exobiology. astrophysics, geology, atmospheric physics, chemistry, biophysics, The Workshop in Graz will deal on the formation of organic mol- biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, medicine, robotics, etc. ecules in planetary nebulae, the study of organics in comets, asteroids, . Bring together scientists, spacecraft engineers and industrial meteoroids and interstellar dust particles, the evolution of planetary partners for planning future space missions relevant to planetary atmospheres in relation to the origin of life, as well as the history of the exploration. solar particle and radiation environment in our solar system and the . Highlight the scientific, technical, industrial and philosophical implications for space exposure experiments and planetary evolution. benefits for the public. Since, the Space Research Institute (IWF) of the Austrian Academy of The Workshop is organized as a forum to maximize the advantages Sciences, as the main local organizer, has a long tradition and many of interdisciplinary innovative discussions. Poster sessions will be open years of experience in planetary exploration and is involved in Exo/ during the whole meeting and Proceedings will by published as an ESA Astrobiology relevant missions like Cassini/Huygens, Rosetta, Mars- Special Publication (ESA-SP-518) after the Workshop. Express, Nozomi, Netlander and space simulation experiments, the Helmut Lammer (main local organizer) Workshop will focus on the exploration of Mars, Titan and Europa. Austrian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute (IWF), De- Terrestrial permafrost is a very good habitat for micro-organisms on partment of Extraterrestrial Physics, Planetary Atmosphere Group, Earth, therefore, a special session is dedicated to Astrobiology relevant Graz, Austria. permafrost studies. On the perspectives opened by the discovery of putative terrestrial extra-solar planets the workshop will also discuss this new, exciting and growing field. EANA first Anniversary by Andre´ Brack, President EANA, the European Exo/Astrobiology Network Association, was by an Executive Council consisting of national members presently rep- created in 2001 to co-ordinate the different European centres of excel- resenting twelve European nations active in the field (Austria, Belgium, lence in Exo/Astrobiology or related fields already organized in national Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzer- networks. Exo/Astrobiology encompasses the disciplines of chemistry, land, The Netherlands, United Kingdom). biology, palaeontology, geology, atmospheric physics, planetary phys- Since its creation, EANA co-organized with ESA the First European ics and stellar physics. Most aspects of this research require substan- Exo/Astrobiology meeting in Frascati, Italy. During the Frascati tial resources in terms of analytical or simulation laboratory facilities, Workshop, from 21 to 23 May 2001, attended by 200 scientists, the ground instrumentation, spacecraft and staffing. There are several national and international activities in Exo/Astrobiology were pres- centres of excellence in Exo/Astrobiology or related fields of research in ented as well as the European achievements in the different fields Europe and several nations have established national networks, which covered by Exo/Astrobiology: the ingredients of life and chemistry were not seriously co-ordinated for the sharing of expertise and facilities of primitive life, life in the extremes and terrestrial analogues for on a European level. extraterrestrial habitats, extraterrestrial/extra-solar habitability, the The specific objectives of EANA are to bring together European re- nature of, and the search for life in the solar system and beyond, and searchers interested in Exo/Astrobiology programmes and to foster their missions to search for life in the solar system. Both plenary, splinter co-operation, to attract young scientists to this quickly evolving inter- and poster sessions generated lively discussions, which cemented the disciplinary field of research, to create a website establishing a database European community. The scientific input has been published by ESA of expertise in different aspects of Exo/Astrobiology, to interface the as an ESA Special Publication (SP-496, 2001). Network with European bodies such as ESA, ESF, the European The EANA Web Page is under construction. It will be hosted as Commission and with non-European institutions active in the field, and part of the ESA pilot Virtual Institute at ESTEC in Noordwijk, The to popularize Exo/Astrobiology to the public and to students. It is run Netherlands. Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.35.93, on 29 Sep 2021 at 16:40:41, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1473550402001143 202 Abstracts from the Second European Workshop To strengthen its networking action, EANA has submitted a proposal R. Leitinger, A. Hanslmeier, IGAM, University of Graz, Austria entitled ‘The Limits of Planetary life: Origins and distribution’ in the A. Brack, CBM-CNRS Orle´ ans, France framework of the European Science Foundation Scientific Network L. Colangeli, Osservatorio di Capodimonte, Italy Scheme. EANA has also submitted an Expression of Interest for a P. Ehrenfreund, Observatory Leiden, The Netherlands Network of Excellence of the European Commission 6th Framework B. Hofmann, Natural History Museum, Bern, Switzerland Program in Astrobiology entitled ‘European Astrobiology Space Sci- A. Penny, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK ence and Technology Network (EASSTN)’. With respect to the Euro- J. Perez Mercader, Centro de Astrobiologia, Madrid, Spain pean Commission COST Actions to foster co-operation in a specific P. Clancy, ESA research area, COST D27 ‘Origin of life and early evolution’ has been Science advisory committee approved in Brussels for a period of five years. The main objective of R. Amils, Centro de Astrobiologia, Madrid, Spain this action is to develop the chemistry of the origins and the early O. Angerer, ESA evolution of life. M. Coradini, ESA In the future, EANA anticipates including other European countries C. Cockell, British Antarctic Survey, UK active in Exo/Astrobiology. Moreover, the creation of an international C. Cosmovici, IFSI CNR, Italy Astrobiology group to facilitate international exchange between es- L. Cruzeiro-Hansson, University de Algarve, Portugal tablished bodies dedicated to Astrobiology (i.e. organizations, societies D. Field, University of Aarhus, Denmark and structures including EANA) and to harmonize the planning of joint M. Fridlund, ESA Astrobiology meetings is in progress. A. Hjalmarson, Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden For the present European Exo/Astrobiology Workshop held in Graz, N. Holm, University of Stockholm, Sweden Austria special attention has been given to the planetology aspects of G. Horneck, DLR, Cologne, Germany Exo/Astrobiology to acknowledge the expertise of the local organizers. G. von Kiedrowski, University of Bochum, Germany Workshop organization J. M. Knudsen, Orsted Laboratory, Denmark The Second European Workshop on Exo/Astrobiology is co-organized R. Paepe, Geobound International, Brussels, Belgium by the Planetary Atmosphere Group of the Department of Extra- D. Prieur, Universite´ de Bretagne Occidentale, France terrestrial Physics, of the Space Research Institute (IWF) of the Austrian F. Raulin, CNRS, LISA Universite Paris, France Academy of Sciences, the Astrophysics Group of the Institute of Geo- G. Ronto, MTA-SE, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary physics, Astrophysics and Meteorology (IGAM) of the University of H. O. Rucker, IWF, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria Graz, the European Exo/Astrobiology Network Association (EANA) G. Schwehm, ESA and the European Space