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Cockell CS, Biller B, Bryce C, Cousins C, Direito S, Forgan D, Fox-Powell M, Harrison J, Landenmark H, Nixon S, Payler SJ, Rice K, Samuels T, Schwendner P, Stevens A, Nicholson N, Wadsworth J. The UK Centre for Astrobiology: A Virtual Astrobiology Centre. Accomplishments and Lessons Learned, 2011-2016. ASTROBIOLOGY 2018; 18:224-243. [PMID: 29377716 PMCID: PMC5820684 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2017.1713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
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, 224-243.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles S. Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Beth Biller
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Casey Bryce
- Eberhard Karls Universitaet Tuebingen, Center for Applied Geoscience (ZAG), Geomicrobiology, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Claire Cousins
- Centre for Exoplanet Science, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Susana Direito
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Duncan Forgan
- Centre for Exoplanet Science, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Mark Fox-Powell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jesse Harrison
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Research Network “Chemistry Meets Microbiology”, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hanna Landenmark
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sophie Nixon
- Geomicrobiology Research Group, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Samuel J. Payler
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ken Rice
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Toby Samuels
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Petra Schwendner
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Adam Stevens
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Natasha Nicholson
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jennifer Wadsworth
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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