AstrobiologyOU
@astrobiologyou.bsky.social
The Open University's very own Astrobiology research group, addressing the scientific, governance and ethical challenges associated with astrobiology.
www.open.ac.uk/AstrobiologyOU
www.open.ac.uk/AstrobiologyOU
⭐ COMING SOON⭐
The AstrobiologyOU Advent Calendar 2025!
The AstrobiologyOU Advent Calendar 2025!
November 28, 2025 at 11:44 AM
⭐ COMING SOON⭐
The AstrobiologyOU Advent Calendar 2025!
The AstrobiologyOU Advent Calendar 2025!
Three of the team are off to Spain to carry out some fieldwork!
But before they go the important job of packing!!
(Extra credit to those who spot an AstrobiologyOU mug!)
#Fieldwork #astrobiology #research
But before they go the important job of packing!!
(Extra credit to those who spot an AstrobiologyOU mug!)
#Fieldwork #astrobiology #research
November 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Three of the team are off to Spain to carry out some fieldwork!
But before they go the important job of packing!!
(Extra credit to those who spot an AstrobiologyOU mug!)
#Fieldwork #astrobiology #research
But before they go the important job of packing!!
(Extra credit to those who spot an AstrobiologyOU mug!)
#Fieldwork #astrobiology #research
We were very excited to welcome back Dr Grace Richards @spacelabgrace (INAF-IAPS, Rome) to the group for a seminar on:
'Space weathering in the lab: from Enceladus to Mercury'.
Grace graduated from her PhD in AstrobiologyOU earlier in 2025 so it was great to see what she's been up to since!
'Space weathering in the lab: from Enceladus to Mercury'.
Grace graduated from her PhD in AstrobiologyOU earlier in 2025 so it was great to see what she's been up to since!
November 18, 2025 at 10:00 AM
We were very excited to welcome back Dr Grace Richards @spacelabgrace (INAF-IAPS, Rome) to the group for a seminar on:
'Space weathering in the lab: from Enceladus to Mercury'.
Grace graduated from her PhD in AstrobiologyOU earlier in 2025 so it was great to see what she's been up to since!
'Space weathering in the lab: from Enceladus to Mercury'.
Grace graduated from her PhD in AstrobiologyOU earlier in 2025 so it was great to see what she's been up to since!
Huge congratulations to Dr Veli Ilieva on a successful defence of her PhD thesis titled:
The microbial communities of sulfate-rich hypersaline Mars-analogue environments.
We are all very proud of you. Enjoy the celebrations! 🎉
The microbial communities of sulfate-rich hypersaline Mars-analogue environments.
We are all very proud of you. Enjoy the celebrations! 🎉
November 17, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Huge congratulations to Dr Veli Ilieva on a successful defence of her PhD thesis titled:
The microbial communities of sulfate-rich hypersaline Mars-analogue environments.
We are all very proud of you. Enjoy the celebrations! 🎉
The microbial communities of sulfate-rich hypersaline Mars-analogue environments.
We are all very proud of you. Enjoy the celebrations! 🎉
Huge thanks to Dr Claire Newman (Aeolis Research) for visiting the group today and giving a super seminar on Mars atmospheric science from fifty years of surface missions.
Pictured here (centre) with Dr Ben Tatton and Jessie Hogan
Pictured here (centre) with Dr Ben Tatton and Jessie Hogan
November 13, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Huge thanks to Dr Claire Newman (Aeolis Research) for visiting the group today and giving a super seminar on Mars atmospheric science from fifty years of surface missions.
Pictured here (centre) with Dr Ben Tatton and Jessie Hogan
Pictured here (centre) with Dr Ben Tatton and Jessie Hogan
You don't need to be an astronaut to work in space!
In our new YouTube video hear from experts at the OU about jobs, careers and hobbies that would allow you to work in the space sector.
Filmed for World Space Week 2025
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoXm...
#WSW2025 #WorldSpaceWeek #OpenUniversity
In our new YouTube video hear from experts at the OU about jobs, careers and hobbies that would allow you to work in the space sector.
Filmed for World Space Week 2025
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoXm...
#WSW2025 #WorldSpaceWeek #OpenUniversity
November 11, 2025 at 5:22 PM
You don't need to be an astronaut to work in space!
In our new YouTube video hear from experts at the OU about jobs, careers and hobbies that would allow you to work in the space sector.
Filmed for World Space Week 2025
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoXm...
#WSW2025 #WorldSpaceWeek #OpenUniversity
In our new YouTube video hear from experts at the OU about jobs, careers and hobbies that would allow you to work in the space sector.
Filmed for World Space Week 2025
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoXm...
#WSW2025 #WorldSpaceWeek #OpenUniversity
Do space environments have value? If we find life on Mars, what are our responsibilities?
Our own Dr Emma Purenen discusses these and more questions about Astrobiology Ethics in our latest video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYxO...
#worldspaceweek #WSW2025 #SpaceEthics
Our own Dr Emma Purenen discusses these and more questions about Astrobiology Ethics in our latest video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYxO...
#worldspaceweek #WSW2025 #SpaceEthics
November 7, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Do space environments have value? If we find life on Mars, what are our responsibilities?
Our own Dr Emma Purenen discusses these and more questions about Astrobiology Ethics in our latest video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYxO...
#worldspaceweek #WSW2025 #SpaceEthics
Our own Dr Emma Purenen discusses these and more questions about Astrobiology Ethics in our latest video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYxO...
#worldspaceweek #WSW2025 #SpaceEthics
We were delighted to welcome Prof Christoph Salzmann (UCL) to the group today, visiting the labs and giving a seminar on ‘Ice: from snowflakes to energy storage’.
Pictured here (centre) with Dr Rachael Hamp and Dr Mark Fox-Powell.
Pictured here (centre) with Dr Rachael Hamp and Dr Mark Fox-Powell.
November 6, 2025 at 3:38 PM
We were delighted to welcome Prof Christoph Salzmann (UCL) to the group today, visiting the labs and giving a seminar on ‘Ice: from snowflakes to energy storage’.
Pictured here (centre) with Dr Rachael Hamp and Dr Mark Fox-Powell.
Pictured here (centre) with Dr Rachael Hamp and Dr Mark Fox-Powell.
Today we sadly said 'au revoir' to our wonderful Office Manager Rosa Miller who has been at the helm for four years and one month!
She leaves us to take up a new role as Strategy, Policy and Governance Manager in the OU STEM Deanery.
Thank you for your care and support and we will miss you!
She leaves us to take up a new role as Strategy, Policy and Governance Manager in the OU STEM Deanery.
Thank you for your care and support and we will miss you!
October 31, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Today we sadly said 'au revoir' to our wonderful Office Manager Rosa Miller who has been at the helm for four years and one month!
She leaves us to take up a new role as Strategy, Policy and Governance Manager in the OU STEM Deanery.
Thank you for your care and support and we will miss you!
She leaves us to take up a new role as Strategy, Policy and Governance Manager in the OU STEM Deanery.
Thank you for your care and support and we will miss you!
We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Dr Alison Halton to the AstrobiologyOU team as Laboratory Manager (microbiology).
October 30, 2025 at 11:29 AM
We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Dr Alison Halton to the AstrobiologyOU team as Laboratory Manager (microbiology).
In celebration of National Cat Day, say hello to the Cats of AstrobiologyOU!
While they are tough employers/children, they power us through with cuddles and love, supporting us to be the best astrobiologists we can be!
#nationalcatday #catsofastrobiology #catsofbluesky
While they are tough employers/children, they power us through with cuddles and love, supporting us to be the best astrobiologists we can be!
#nationalcatday #catsofastrobiology #catsofbluesky
October 29, 2025 at 3:05 PM
In celebration of National Cat Day, say hello to the Cats of AstrobiologyOU!
While they are tough employers/children, they power us through with cuddles and love, supporting us to be the best astrobiologists we can be!
#nationalcatday #catsofastrobiology #catsofbluesky
While they are tough employers/children, they power us through with cuddles and love, supporting us to be the best astrobiologists we can be!
#nationalcatday #catsofastrobiology #catsofbluesky
Shout out to Rachael Hamp for her brilliant talk about Saturn’s moon Enceladus at today’s Bach, the Universe and Everything: icy moons.
She described Enceladus as a place that, at first glance, seems hostile yet is one of the most likely places in the solar system we’ll find extraterrestrial life
She described Enceladus as a place that, at first glance, seems hostile yet is one of the most likely places in the solar system we’ll find extraterrestrial life
October 26, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Shout out to Rachael Hamp for her brilliant talk about Saturn’s moon Enceladus at today’s Bach, the Universe and Everything: icy moons.
She described Enceladus as a place that, at first glance, seems hostile yet is one of the most likely places in the solar system we’ll find extraterrestrial life
She described Enceladus as a place that, at first glance, seems hostile yet is one of the most likely places in the solar system we’ll find extraterrestrial life
We’re very proud to announce that our Director, Prof Karen Olsson-Francis, has been elected President of the European Astrobiology Network Association (EANA). She is the first British President of this prestigious network.
Congratulations Karen! 🎉
Congratulations Karen! 🎉
October 23, 2025 at 12:06 PM
We’re very proud to announce that our Director, Prof Karen Olsson-Francis, has been elected President of the European Astrobiology Network Association (EANA). She is the first British President of this prestigious network.
Congratulations Karen! 🎉
Congratulations Karen! 🎉
We are excited to have officially opened the new Icy Worlds Laboratory - a dedicated space to experimentally study ice formation using cryogenics for applications across the different icy bodies in our Solar System.
October 21, 2025 at 11:09 AM
We are excited to have officially opened the new Icy Worlds Laboratory - a dedicated space to experimentally study ice formation using cryogenics for applications across the different icy bodies in our Solar System.
🚨 New FREE course alert 🚨
Discover how scientists safeguard space missions, prevent biological contamination, and explore the ethical dimensions of exploring other worlds.
- No experience needed
- Free certificate
👉 bit.ly/PlanetaryProtectionCourse
#SpaceScience #PlanetaryProtection #FreeCourse
Discover how scientists safeguard space missions, prevent biological contamination, and explore the ethical dimensions of exploring other worlds.
- No experience needed
- Free certificate
👉 bit.ly/PlanetaryProtectionCourse
#SpaceScience #PlanetaryProtection #FreeCourse
October 9, 2025 at 11:24 AM
🚨 New FREE course alert 🚨
Discover how scientists safeguard space missions, prevent biological contamination, and explore the ethical dimensions of exploring other worlds.
- No experience needed
- Free certificate
👉 bit.ly/PlanetaryProtectionCourse
#SpaceScience #PlanetaryProtection #FreeCourse
Discover how scientists safeguard space missions, prevent biological contamination, and explore the ethical dimensions of exploring other worlds.
- No experience needed
- Free certificate
👉 bit.ly/PlanetaryProtectionCourse
#SpaceScience #PlanetaryProtection #FreeCourse
Today is National Poetry Day!
Here is a poem written by one of our former PhD students Dr Anushree Srivastava about her discovery of novel microbial species
You can find her blog on our website and you can listen to Anushree read her poem!
#SciencePoetry #NationalPoetryDay #ScienceMeetsArt
Here is a poem written by one of our former PhD students Dr Anushree Srivastava about her discovery of novel microbial species
You can find her blog on our website and you can listen to Anushree read her poem!
#SciencePoetry #NationalPoetryDay #ScienceMeetsArt
October 2, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Today is National Poetry Day!
Here is a poem written by one of our former PhD students Dr Anushree Srivastava about her discovery of novel microbial species
You can find her blog on our website and you can listen to Anushree read her poem!
#SciencePoetry #NationalPoetryDay #ScienceMeetsArt
Here is a poem written by one of our former PhD students Dr Anushree Srivastava about her discovery of novel microbial species
You can find her blog on our website and you can listen to Anushree read her poem!
#SciencePoetry #NationalPoetryDay #ScienceMeetsArt
October 1, 2025 at 10:44 AM
World Space Week 2025 is nearly here!
Explore space careers, planetary protection & astrobiology ethics through talks & on-demand content.
👉 stem.open.ac.uk/events
#WorldSpaceWeek #SpaceForAll #STEMEvents
Explore space careers, planetary protection & astrobiology ethics through talks & on-demand content.
👉 stem.open.ac.uk/events
#WorldSpaceWeek #SpaceForAll #STEMEvents
September 29, 2025 at 3:59 PM
World Space Week 2025 is nearly here!
Explore space careers, planetary protection & astrobiology ethics through talks & on-demand content.
👉 stem.open.ac.uk/events
#WorldSpaceWeek #SpaceForAll #STEMEvents
Explore space careers, planetary protection & astrobiology ethics through talks & on-demand content.
👉 stem.open.ac.uk/events
#WorldSpaceWeek #SpaceForAll #STEMEvents
Happy International Languages Day!
In languages spoken by the team and some of our collaborators:
Welsh: Astrobioleg
Norwegian: astrobiologi
Greek: Αστροβιολογία
Hindi and Sanskrit: खगोल-जीव विज्ञान
Hungarian: asztrobiológia
Italian: astrobiologia
#InternationalLanguages #Astrobiology
1/2
In languages spoken by the team and some of our collaborators:
Welsh: Astrobioleg
Norwegian: astrobiologi
Greek: Αστροβιολογία
Hindi and Sanskrit: खगोल-जीव विज्ञान
Hungarian: asztrobiológia
Italian: astrobiologia
#InternationalLanguages #Astrobiology
1/2
September 26, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Happy International Languages Day!
In languages spoken by the team and some of our collaborators:
Welsh: Astrobioleg
Norwegian: astrobiologi
Greek: Αστροβιολογία
Hindi and Sanskrit: खगोल-जीव विज्ञान
Hungarian: asztrobiológia
Italian: astrobiologia
#InternationalLanguages #Astrobiology
1/2
In languages spoken by the team and some of our collaborators:
Welsh: Astrobioleg
Norwegian: astrobiologi
Greek: Αστροβιολογία
Hindi and Sanskrit: खगोल-जीव विज्ञान
Hungarian: asztrobiológia
Italian: astrobiologia
#InternationalLanguages #Astrobiology
1/2
World Space Week 2025 is nearly here
We’ve got talks, videos & more exploring careers, ethics & planetary protection.
Join us all week to celebrate space!
Event details: stem.open.ac.uk/events
#WorldSpaceWeek #SpaceForEveryone
We’ve got talks, videos & more exploring careers, ethics & planetary protection.
Join us all week to celebrate space!
Event details: stem.open.ac.uk/events
#WorldSpaceWeek #SpaceForEveryone
September 25, 2025 at 10:44 AM
World Space Week 2025 is nearly here
We’ve got talks, videos & more exploring careers, ethics & planetary protection.
Join us all week to celebrate space!
Event details: stem.open.ac.uk/events
#WorldSpaceWeek #SpaceForEveryone
We’ve got talks, videos & more exploring careers, ethics & planetary protection.
Join us all week to celebrate space!
Event details: stem.open.ac.uk/events
#WorldSpaceWeek #SpaceForEveryone
New study by Dr Nisha Ramkissoon shows Europa’s ocean chemistry is more strongly influenced by accreted volatiles—especially cometary materials—than by its rocky interior, with implications for habitability and future space missions.
👉 buff.ly/Hke1twH
#Europa #Astrobiology #SpaceScience
👉 buff.ly/Hke1twH
#Europa #Astrobiology #SpaceScience
September 22, 2025 at 10:44 AM
New study by Dr Nisha Ramkissoon shows Europa’s ocean chemistry is more strongly influenced by accreted volatiles—especially cometary materials—than by its rocky interior, with implications for habitability and future space missions.
👉 buff.ly/Hke1twH
#Europa #Astrobiology #SpaceScience
👉 buff.ly/Hke1twH
#Europa #Astrobiology #SpaceScience
It was an absolute joy to attend this morning's @openuniversity.bsky.social graduation!
Congratulations to all who graduated - including our very own #GraceRichards
We’re very proud of you!
#OUFamily @ougradsch.bsky.social #SPS #OUSTEM
🍾🥂🍾
Congratulations to all who graduated - including our very own #GraceRichards
We’re very proud of you!
#OUFamily @ougradsch.bsky.social #SPS #OUSTEM
🍾🥂🍾
September 20, 2025 at 1:05 PM
It was an absolute joy to attend this morning's @openuniversity.bsky.social graduation!
Congratulations to all who graduated - including our very own #GraceRichards
We’re very proud of you!
#OUFamily @ougradsch.bsky.social #SPS #OUSTEM
🍾🥂🍾
Congratulations to all who graduated - including our very own #GraceRichards
We’re very proud of you!
#OUFamily @ougradsch.bsky.social #SPS #OUSTEM
🍾🥂🍾
Ready to learn something out of this world?
Celebrate National Adult Learners Week by exploring our FREE online resources!
No experience needed — just curiosity!
👉 open.edu/openlearn/astrobiology
#AdultLearnersWeek #Astrobiology #FreeLearning #LifelongLearning #OnlineCourses #LearnForFree
Celebrate National Adult Learners Week by exploring our FREE online resources!
No experience needed — just curiosity!
👉 open.edu/openlearn/astrobiology
#AdultLearnersWeek #Astrobiology #FreeLearning #LifelongLearning #OnlineCourses #LearnForFree
September 15, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Ready to learn something out of this world?
Celebrate National Adult Learners Week by exploring our FREE online resources!
No experience needed — just curiosity!
👉 open.edu/openlearn/astrobiology
#AdultLearnersWeek #Astrobiology #FreeLearning #LifelongLearning #OnlineCourses #LearnForFree
Celebrate National Adult Learners Week by exploring our FREE online resources!
No experience needed — just curiosity!
👉 open.edu/openlearn/astrobiology
#AdultLearnersWeek #Astrobiology #FreeLearning #LifelongLearning #OnlineCourses #LearnForFree
World Space Week 2025 is nearly here
We’ve got talks, videos & more exploring careers, ethics & planetary protection.
Join us all week to celebrate space! 4 - 10 October
Full details and registration info coming soon.
#WorldSpaceWeek #SpaceForEveryone
We’ve got talks, videos & more exploring careers, ethics & planetary protection.
Join us all week to celebrate space! 4 - 10 October
Full details and registration info coming soon.
#WorldSpaceWeek #SpaceForEveryone
September 12, 2025 at 3:59 PM
World Space Week 2025 is nearly here
We’ve got talks, videos & more exploring careers, ethics & planetary protection.
Join us all week to celebrate space! 4 - 10 October
Full details and registration info coming soon.
#WorldSpaceWeek #SpaceForEveryone
We’ve got talks, videos & more exploring careers, ethics & planetary protection.
Join us all week to celebrate space! 4 - 10 October
Full details and registration info coming soon.
#WorldSpaceWeek #SpaceForEveryone
Today at #EPSCDPS2025 - Jessie is presenting her PhD work exploring how ice grain size affects salt composition in the plumes of Saturn’s moon Enceladus.
This work helps us understand how different-sized grains carry different chemical signatures.
#Enceladus #Astrobiology #IcyWorlds #SpaceResearch
This work helps us understand how different-sized grains carry different chemical signatures.
#Enceladus #Astrobiology #IcyWorlds #SpaceResearch
September 10, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Today at #EPSCDPS2025 - Jessie is presenting her PhD work exploring how ice grain size affects salt composition in the plumes of Saturn’s moon Enceladus.
This work helps us understand how different-sized grains carry different chemical signatures.
#Enceladus #Astrobiology #IcyWorlds #SpaceResearch
This work helps us understand how different-sized grains carry different chemical signatures.
#Enceladus #Astrobiology #IcyWorlds #SpaceResearch