2018 Pop-Up Institute - Understanding Planetary Habitability

Invitation to a Town Hall on January 22, 3-5pm in SAC 2.302

Where Does Life Exist Beyond Earth and How Can We Find It?    

The Planetary Habitability Pop-Up Institute invites all UT faculty, staff and students to join an interdisciplinary research initiative to explore answers to this and many other questions related to life beyond Earth.  At this upcoming Town Hall Meeting we will present our current concept for the Pop-Up Institute, listen to your feedback, and invite those who are interested in participating to join us in the Pop-Up Institute this summer.   This Pop-Up Institute is a collaborative effort among the Office of the Vice President of Research, the College of Natural Sciences, the Jackson School of Geosciences and the Cockrell School of Engineering.

Is there life on other planets, or is life on Earth a unique phenomenon? Current evidence indicates that life initiated on Earth just as soon as the physical conditions permitted, and in recent years, we have found that other locations which might support life are abundant. We now have evidence that Earth-sized planets are common in our Milky Way galaxy. Recent research indicates that Mars may once have been habitable, and that oceans of liquid water exist below the icy surfaces of Europa and Enceladus. Are any of these locations suitable habitats for life? What physical conditions does life require to start and to flourish, and where can we find such conditions?

Our Pop-Up Institute will unite researchers across The University of Texas (College of Natural Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, Cockrell School of Engineering and any other interested groups) to:

1. Convene world experts on the topics of origins of life, planetary dynamics and habitability and how to find and recognize life.
2. Identify the most important questions in these research areas.
3. Develop long-range plans for a coordinated campus-wide research effort in planetary habitability.
4. Draft proposals for significant external funding of this research effort through NASA, NSF, or private foundations.
5. Explore possible international collaborations with aligned initiatives in other countries.

The Planetary Habitability Pop-Up Institute will meet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for six weeks in June and July 2018.  The first two weeks (June 12-14 and June 19-21) will be held at the Pickle Research Campus (easily accessible via the Capital Metro 803 bus line) and the rest of the meetings (June 26-28, July 10-12 and July 17-19) will be held on the U.T. Main Campus. The final week is reserved for drafting a summary and proposals that arise from the Pop-Up Institute and will take place at PRC.