Summary:

This international conference, endorsed by IAU and Division of Planetary Sciences and Astrobiology,   is the third of a series of conferences on « Planets, Exoplanets and Astrobiology ». It will be preceeded by a 2 day Training School on « Basics of Astrobiology » for students and young researchers (December 9th-11th – see “Program“). Both the Training School and Conference will be held at ICISE* and hosted by the Rencontres du Vietnam**.

The aims of the conference are to discuss and review recent developments in:

• Solar system formation
• Formation and evolution of planetary systems
• Habitability in the Solar System and beyond
• Exoplanetary systems
• Origin of water on Earth
• Molecules in space
• Missions to habitable worlds
• Early Earth environment
• Early Traces of life
• Building blocks of life
• Prebiotic chemistry
• Emergence of life
• Early life
• Life in extreme conditions
• Ethics and societal questions linked to space exploration
• History and philosophy of the origins of life

* The International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science Education (ICISE) is pleasantly located in the seaside of the city of Quy Nhon (Central Vietnam) where conferences meeting international standards can be organized. It contributes to the development of research and education in Vietnam and in this region of Asia. With this motivation in mind, Asian scientists are encouraged to meet for events (conferences, schools and workshops) and to share knowledge/expertise with their foreign counterparts.

** Since 1993, the institution “Rencontres du Vietnam”, which is an official partner of UNESCO, has organized international meetings (conferences and schools) of high scientific level with the motivation of fostering exchange between Vietnamese researchers or others from Asia-Pacific region and their colleagues coming from other parts of the world.

Training School on Basics of Astrobiology, December 9th-11th

Before the conference we will organize at ICISE a 2-day training school for students and young researchers who have not been exposed to the interdisciplinary basics that astrobiology requires (e.g., astronomy for biologists, prebiotic chemistry for astronomers, etc.).

4 sessions of 3 hours each will be presented on Astrophysics/Planetology, Earth sciences, Chemistry and Life Sciences. Session hours will be 8:00 – 11:30 and 13:00 – 16 :30.