Background

In 2013, Dr Sohan Jheeta, an independent research scientist and free thinker instigated the initial concept behind NoRCEL (originally known as the Network of Researchers on the Chemical Emergence of Life) and, with the support of Reader Martin Dominik (University of St Andrews), as well as Professor Nigel Mason (University of Kent), the framework for the embryonic network was formulated. Professor Elias Chatzitheodoridis (National Technical University of Athens), then joined the network in 2016. Since then, the network has established a dedicated volunteer team, and attracted members from over 60 countries around the world. In 2025, with the expansion of its educational and outreach projects and initiatives, the network evolved into The NoRCEL Institute.

By bridging prebiotic chemistry, astrobiology, and planetary science, the NoRCEL Institute promotes scientific literacy, ethical inquiry, and open-access knowledge. Through global collaboration—particularly with under-represented communities in the Global South—NoRCEL empowers diverse voices to co-create sustainable futures, foster epistemic diversity, and cultivate the next generation of planetary thinkers and responsible stewards of life on Earth and beyond.