The objective of the International Frontiers of Sciences (iFS) is to promote the latest discoveries in the field of the origin of life. In the process, we hope to inspire the next generation of scientists to bring to the fore new thought processes and ideas, as well as develop new technologies to help uncover the routes to the origin of life in the laboratory. This is the best anyone could realistically hope for, as we will never know with a hundred percent certainty just exactly how life really began on Earth and it may be that making life is a test tube is one of a million ways of synthesising life. Moreover, we just need to try find out some of the answers in our lifetime…
On Saturday the 6th of November 2021, NoRCEL held the International Frontiers of Sciences 2021 event. This was done as a way of extending the scope of knowledge of origin of life sciences and related topics across the World, by sharing research and ideas with a wider and more diverse audience. Primarily aimed at students, as well as early career scientists, we hope that we encouraged the next generation of pioneers to connect with us, as some extremely expert scientists presented their thought provoking and interesting concepts, which were both fascinating and inspiring. The event was open to all, as well as being free to attend. In this way we continue to demonstrate our openness and inclusivity.
Programme
12:00 – 12:15 Introduction: Sohan Jheeta
First Session Chair: Martin Dominik
12:15 – 13:00: Mukesh Bhatt, School of Law, Birkbeck College, University of London: A future with history: transcultural and interdisciplinary space settlement
13:00 – 13:45: Frank Trixler, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) Munich, Germany: The origin and nature of nucleic acids: paradoxes, puzzle pieces and the revolution in chemical evolution
13:45 – 14:45 Sohan Jheeta – Network announcement/Coffee Break/Wonder.me
Second Session Chair: Elias Chatzitheodoridis
14:45 – 15:30: Josep M Trigo-Rodriguez, Institute of Space Sciences (CSIC-IEEC), Catalonia, Spain: Working on space research: introducing peer-review and manuscript preparation to early career scientists
15:30 – 16:15: Bruce Damer, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA: The Hot Spring Hypothesis: New Science of Life’s Origins
16:15 – 16:45 Discussions and close: Sohan Jheeta
