Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today (eBook)

Dr Klara Anna Capova is an anthropologist working in science and technology studies, specialising in the social study of astrobiology and anthropology of outer space. In 2013, she completed her doctoral research on scientific search for life beyond earth, Durham University, UK. Her recent work includes the study of transformations of human relations to outer space, popular perceptions of science, and societal context of space exploration. Dr Capova is currently a honorary research associate at Durham University, UK. Klara is a member of the WG5 on Philosophy and History of Science, of the COST Action TD1308 ORIGINS and evolution of life on Earth and in the Universe;  a member of the European Astrobiology Network Association, Astrobiology Society of Britain and a member of the Scientific Organizing Committee of the International Working Group on Astrobioethics. She is active in delivering talks worldwide as well as acts as an associate researcher and project consultant in societal aspects of space and society, and science and technology.Dr Erik Persson received his PhD in Practical Philosophy from Lund University, where he is now working as a reseracher at the Department of Philosophy. He has also worked as researcher at the Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences, as researcher and Principal Investigator at the Pufendorf Institute of Advanced Studies, as Research Fellow at the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, as Senior Scientist at The Nordic Genetic Resource Center, and as Senior Lecturer at Umeå University. His research is primarily focused on applied ethics, especially, environmental ethics, space ethics and ethical aspects of emerging technologies.Dr Tony Milligan is the author of a series of books including Nobody Owns the Moon: The Ethics of Space Exploitation (2015), as well as a co-editor of various volumes, including The Ethics of Space Exploration (2016). He is a Teaching Fellow in Ethics and the Philosophy of Religion at King’s College London.David Dunér is professor of history of science and ideas at Lund University, Sweden. He is also a researcher at the division for cognitive semiotics at Lund University. He was the leader of working group 5 on the history and philosophy of astrobiology within the COST Action TD 1308, Origins and Evolution of Life on Earth and in the Universe. He has edited the book The History and Philosophy of Astrobiology: Perspectives on Extraterrestrial Life and the Human Mind (Cambridge Scholars: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 2013) and special issues on the history and philosophy of astrobiology in Astrobiology (2012), and on the history and philosophy of the origin of life in International Journal of Astrobiology (2016). 

Executive Summary                                                                                                         5

 

Acknowledgements                                                                                                         6

 

Abbreviations                                                                                                                   7

 

Affiliations                                                                                                                       8

 

1. Astrobiology and Society in Europe                                                                                     9

 

1.1 Introduction                                                                                                                     9

 

1.2 The Contribution of Humanities and Social Sciences to EU Astrobiology                     9

 

1.3 What is Astrobiology?                                                                                                   10

 

1.4 Organising EU Astrobiology Research                                                                          11

 

2. The International Context of Astrobiology                                                                        12

 

2.1 Introduction                                                                                                                   12

 

2.2 European Astrobiology Research to Date                                                                      13

 

2.3 American Experience                                                                                                     15

 

2.4 International Outlook                                                                                                     16

 

2.4.1 Africa                                                                                                                    16

 

2.4.2 Asia                                                                                                                       16

 

2.4.3 Latin America                                                                                                       17

 

2.5 Current Regulations and Planetary Protection                                                               18

 

3. Society, Worldview and Outreach                                                                                      20

 

3.1 Introduction                                                                                                                   20

 

3.2 The Public Understanding of Astrobiology                                                                   20

 

3.3 Popularisation, Dissemination and Outreach                                                                 21

 

3.4 Rethinking Humanity’s Place in the Universe                                                               23

 

3.5 Astrobiology and Religion                                                                                             24

 

4. Environment and Sustainability                                                                                         26

4.1 Introduction                                                                                                                   26

 

4.2 Environmental Protection and Sustainability                                                                 26

 

4.3 Earth Sites of Importance for Astrobiology                                                                  27

 

4.4 Environmental Ethics in Space                                                                                      28

 

5. Education, Training and Scholarship                                                                                30

 

5.1 Introduction                                                                                                                   30

 

5.2 Astrobiology Training and Education                                                                            30

 

5.3 Astrobiology and Society in European Scholarship                                                       31

 

5.4 Science and Technology Awareness among Students                                                   33

 

6. Technological Innovation and Commerce                                                                         35

 

6.1 Introduction                                                                                                                   35

 

6.2 Technological Innovations Driven by Astrobiology                                                      35

 

6.3 Potential Conflicts of Interest                                                                                        36

 

7. Science and Research                                                                                                           38

 

7.1 Introduction                                                                                                                   38

 

7.2 Advancing Astrobiology Research in Europe                                                                38

 

7.3 Careers in Astrobiology                                                                                                 40

 

7.4 The Social Study of Astrobiology as a Science                                                             42

 

8. Leading the Future of Astrobiology in Europe                                                                 44

 

8.1 Introduction                                                                                                                   44

 

8.2 Challenges Facing the EU Astrobiology Community                                                    44

 

8.3 The Role of the European Astrobiology Institute                                                          45

 

8.3.1 Principal Tasks                                                                                                      46

 

8.3.2 Research Areas                                                                                                      47

 

8.3.3 Funding and Mentorship                                                                                       48

 

8.3.4 Suggested Activities of the EAI                                                                           49

 

8.3.5 Multidisciplinarity and Networking                                                                      49

 

9. Appendices                                                                                                                            51

9.1 Definitions                                                                                                                     51

 

9.2 Presentation of the Group                                                                                              52

 

9.3 COST Action Memorandum                                                                                          52

 

9.4 Suggested Literature                                                                                                      53