Magazine publishes special edition on scientific events held in São Paulo

The International Journal of Astrobiology has dedicated an edition to articles based on the conferences held at the São Paulo Advanced School of Sciences on Astrobiology, sponsored by FAPESP.

By Elton Alisson

Agência FAPESP – The International Journal of Astrobiology (IJA) published a special edition dedicated to articles based on the seminars held by Brazilian and foreign researchers during the São Paulo Advanced School of Astrobiology – Making Connections (Spasa 2011).

 

Held in December 2011 in the capital of São Paulo State under the auspices of the São Paulo School of Advanced Sciences (ESPCA), a FAPESP-funded program, the event brought together researchers, lecturers and students from Brazil and abroad to debate the most recent advances in astrobiology worldwide.

 

A new field of knowledge – the result of an interface among astronomy biology, chemistry, geology and atmospheric sciences, among other disciplines – astrobiology studies issues linked to the origins, evolution, distribution and future of life.

 

Among the themes are the formation and detection of pre-biotic molecules (existing before the emergence of life) in planets and the interstellar medium, the influence of astrophysical events in the emergence and maintenance of life on Earth and the feasibility of the existence of life on other planets or satellites, particularly microbial life.

 

According to the magazine, Spasa was the first international school of astrobiology organized in Brazil and marked the beginning of this field of multidisciplinary research in the country.

 

“In Brazil, astrobiology is developed by a group of young researchers that see that one of the major contributions that the Brazilian research community can give [to advance the area] is a profound understanding of terrestrial ecosystems, their complex interrelations and connections and their answers to a planet in evolution,” highlights the publication in its editorial.

 

Organized by Universidade de São Paulo’s Institute of Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences (IAG-USP), under the coordination of Professor Jorge Horvath, the event gathered 33 speakers from Brazil, the United States, Mexico, Germany and Russia.

 

Among the speakers were Brazilian researcher Marcelo Gleiser, of Dartmouth College, and Steven Dick, retired professor of astrophysics at the Smithsonian Institute’s Museum of Natural Science and who served as chief historian of NASA, the U.S. space agency.

 

“The idea was to bring together Brazilian and foreign researchers with significant experience in astrobiology who could give a general panorama of the research in the area,” affirmed Fabio Rodrigues, of USP’s Chemistry Institute and one of the organizers of the meeting and the special IJA edition, in an interview with Agência FAPESP.

 

Scientific Articles

 

The seminar given by Spasa’s participating professors resulted in 16 articles published in IJA’s special edition. The articles give a general panorama of how modern astrobiology is structured and has evolved over time.

 

One of the articles covers “The context of astrobiology and its cultural implications.” Other articles focus on the “Effects of high energy astrophysical events on habitable planets” and the “Evolution of pre-Cambrian life according to Brazilian historical records.”

 

The first article in the magazine, authored by Rodrigues and other USP professors who coordinated the event, tells the history of astrobiology in Brazil. “The history of astrobiology is not as recent [as one might think] and was first registered in 1958. Since then, researchers have conducted many individual initiatives throughout the country in fields related to the area, which resulted in growing and expressive scientific production,” stresses one of the authors.

 

According to Rodrigues, some of the articles published in IJA’s special edition present landmark results. The majority, however, are reviews of the scientific literature authored by researchers from different areas, such as astronomy, biology and chemistry.

 

“The purpose of the special edition was to show what astrobiology is and to serve as a source for anyone starting in the area to have an idea of what has been done,” commented Rodrigues.

 

Landmark articles

 

According to Rodrigues, in addition to IJA’s special edition Spasa should also result in the publication of at least three unpublished articles authored by student participants in Astrobiology.

 

During the event, the 130 student participants from different countries were placed in interdisciplinary groups composed of 8 or 9 members. Throughout the week, each group developed a complete research project in the area to be presented to a funding agency. At the end of the event, each group presented the results of their respective projects and the students were charged with the task of electing the best works.

 

The top three projects in the competition were selected for publication as articles of scientific education initiatives in astrobiology in one of the upcoming editions of Astrobiology.

 

“The interaction among the students who participated in the event resulted in very good studies by researchers from different countries and areas who performed everything from field studies to theoretical studies,” evaluated Rodrigues.

 

Among the participating students were 130 astronomers, biologists, geologists, chemists, physicists and engineers from 26 different countries, 80 of whom have full scholarships from ESPCA, 20 who have partial scholarships and 30 who audited the program.

 

Partnership with NASA’s research center

 

Another result of Spasa is the establishment of a partnership between USP’s Astrobiology Research Center (NAP-Astrobio) and the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI). According to Rodrigues, who is among the associated researchers, NAP-Astrobio began the process of becoming an NAI partner before Spasa. 

 

Several members of NASA’s research institute came to São Paulo to participate in the scientific conference and gained first-hand experience of the quality of research conducted at NAP-Astrobio.

 

Upon returning to their countries of origin, the foreign scientists wrote to NAI’s director and recommended that the partnership with the São Paulo astrobiology center be accepted given the relevance of the work noted during their stay there.

 

“One of reasons we were easily accepted as one of NAI’s international partners was precisely the recommendation of the foreign professors participating in Spasa,” confirmed Rodrigues.

 

According to the researcher, part of the advantage of becoming a partner of the U.S. research center is the exchange of scientists and collaborative research projects.

 

“After Spasa, several other opportunities for international scientific collaboration have emerged, and many foreign students are now interested in pursuing post-doctoral studies and exchanges here,” boasted Rodrigues.

 

The special edition of the International Journal of Astrobiology can be read by subscribers of the publication at http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?decade=2010&jid=IJA&volumeId=11&issueId=04&iid=8704214.