Astrobiology and the People Who Study It by Zellner, Nicolle E. B.;

Short description:

This collection of memoirs describes the lives and science behind some of the people who have advanced our understanding of the conditions for life on Earth and in the universe. The diversity of topics, perspectives, career stages, and career paths makes this an appealing read for those interested in learning more astrobiology.

Long description:

The first of its kind, this book is a collection of memoirs that describe the lives – not just the science – of some of the people who have advanced our understanding of the conditions for life on Earth and in the universe. Astrobiology became a mainstream topic with the announcement in 1996 that fossilized life had been found in martian meteorite ALH84001; that claim has since been discredited. Nonetheless, following the 1992 announcement of the discovery of planets orbiting around a pulsar, it reinvigorated investigations and debate about conditions required for the origin(s) of life on Earth and the possibility of life elsewhere.

Scientists from a variety of career stages and disciplines have shared their stories of passion and persistence, as they paved their various educational and scientific career paths and search for answers to some of the biggest questions we have about life on Earth:

●      What happened in the microseconds after the big bang?

●      How did life form on Earth?

●      What conditions are hospitable to life elsewhere?

●      How do stars affect their planets?

●      What is the future of life on Earth?

To understand these big questions, scientists in this book describe focusing on one subject deeply while finding connections across disciplines, an inherent trait of astrobiology. Personal experiences, including struggles, have enhanced their research trajectories.

The diversity of topics, perspectives, career stages, and career paths and placements provided by the authors is an appealing read for people who are interested in learning more about the multifaceted field of astrobiology. As such, it can be an important resource for the next generation of scientific investigators and educators.

Key features:

·       The book honours the people (both living and deceased) who made significant contributions to their fields of study, which influence our current understanding of life on and beyond Earth.

·       The book is a reference for early career scientific investigators and educators to help them learn about the various possible career paths and fields, as well as about some of the successes and challenges that might be experienced as they navigate their own career trajectories.

·       The level of writing is for the inquisitive person interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), from beginner to expert.

Table of Contents:

Chapter 01 – A Life Among Molecules, Chapter 02 – Testing Darwin’s Idea in Kamchatka, Chapter 03 – Cracking Life's Code: Ada Yonath and the Molecular Story of Life, Chapter 04 – Imre Friedmann: An Astrobiology “Rock” star – A Story of Survival, Serendipity, and Science, Chapter 05 – Jim Ferris: A Man of Many (Inter)layers, Chapter 06 – Sandra Pizzarello: A Pioneer in the Study of Organic Molecules in Extraterrestrial Materials, Chapter 07 – Life Evolving from Chemistry: From the Universe to the Lab, Chapter 08 – Finding the Archaea: Events Leading Up to Discovery and the Personal Consequences Experienced, Chapter 09 – Lynn Margulis: A Born Mentor, Chapter 10 – A Broad Sweep: From Curiosity Science to Saving the Planet, Chapter 11 – From Terrestrial Geology to Life in the Universe: Experiencing Astrobiology Coming to Life, Chapter 12 – Searching for Extreme Paleoenvironments on Earth and Beyond, Chapter 13 – A is for Astrobiology:  The Analytical Astrobiology Lab, Chapter 14 – An Unconventional Journey: From Back-gate Barrio to Astrobiology Academic, Chapter 15 – From Galaxies to Plants, Chapter 16 – An Accidental Astrobiologist: A Journey Involving Several Firsts, Chapter 17 – Journey from Organic Geochemistry to Asteroid Sample Return Mission, Chapter 18 – Reaching for the Stars and Landing on the Moon, Chapter 19 – A Girl Amazed: Life, Stars and Astrobiology, Chapter 20 – What Would You Do If You Won the $100 Million?, Chapter 21 – From Farm Country to Astrobiology, Chapter 22 – Never Say Never: How My Path to Astrobiology Wasn't Written in the Stars, Chapter 23 – Astrobiology in Australia, Chapter 24 – A Tale of Prebiotic Chemistry from Asia and Beyond, Chapter 25 – An Evolutionary Trajectory in Astrobiology, Chapter 26 – Hypotheses, High Heels and Hugs, Chapter 27 – There Is Only One Song, Chapter 28 – From Many Disciplines, One Field: Collaboration and the Making of Astrobiology, Chapter 29 – Astrobiology’s Third Question, Afterword