Speaker: Prof. David W. Schwartzman
Dept. of Biology, Howard University (USA)

"Astrobiology and the Self-organization of the Earth's Biosphere"


Astrobiology (also called exobiology and bio-astronomy,
depending on bias) is the interdisciplinary research program
 seeking to understand life as a cosmic phenomenon.
Beginning with life as we know it, and the Sun and
planets of our local system, this research program
examines possible correspondences of terrestrial/solar system
 characteristics to analogs elsewhere in the Galaxy.
I'll focus on some of the current thinking regarding the
origin of life on Earth, particularly its geochemical
context, and its subsequent co-evolution with its geologic 
and atmospheric environments. In light of this
close-to-home example, the current state of knowledge
regarding Mars will be discussed. Is the origin of Martian
life plausible and if so has it persisted with clues to its
 present existence?