Astrobiology Graduate Conference

14-18 September 2020

Tokyo, Japan

Abstract Submission deadline is less than one month (Mar 15, 2020 JST)

What's new

Check below for the latest updates regarding AbGradCon 2020!

2020/02/16: Astrobiology Australasia Meeting Abstract Submission Open (Deadline March 31 AET)
2020/02/02: Undergraduate Digital Flash Talk Contest Information Updated!
2020/01/17: Abstract submission deadline of AbGradEPEC, an early career researcher symposium before the EAI BEACON2020 meeting in La Palma, Spain by our friends at AbGradE, extended to January 22!
2020/01/14: Astrobiology Australasia Meeting announced as partner of AbGradCon 2020!
2019/12/20: Applications are now open!
2019/11/27: The AbGradCon 2020 website is live!

What is astrobiology?

Astrobiology is the study of the physical and chemical processes that led to the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe. The research topics include, but are not limited to the following:

The physical and chemical processes that led to the evolution of life including the formation and evolution of the stars and planets
The nature and evolution of early planetary atmospheres, crusts, and interiors
Geochemical and geological processes
How the first prebiotic chemicals were synthesized
The transition between primitive chemistries to biologies
Biological evolution of organisms
Engineering and design of spacecraft and life detection technologies
Planetary protection
Fundamental properties of life
Co-evolution of life and Earth (or other planets)
Paleo-geochemistry

About AbGradcon

Credits: Lucy Kwok (ELSI)

AbGradCon (Astrobiology Graduate Conference) provides a unique setting for astrobiologically-inclined graduate students and early career researchers to come together to share their research, to collaborate, and to network.
AbGradCon 2020 marks the 16th year of this conference—each time in a different place and organized by a different group of students, but always with the original charter as a guide. This year's conference will be held in Asia for the first time.
These meetings have been wildly successful both when connected to AbSciCon, and as stand-alone conferences. Since it is organized and attended by only graduate students, post docs, and selected undergraduates, AbGradCon is an ideal venue for the next generation of career astrobiologists to form bonds, share ideas, and discuss the issues that will shape the future of the field.
Have a look at the AbGradCon 2019 website to know more about past conferences.
Here is an editorial about the history of the conference written by past AbGradCon organizers.
If you have any questions about the conference, please feel free to contact us at abgradcon [at] gmail [dot] com.

About ELSI/Tokyo Tech

ELSI

The Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) of Tokyo Institute of Technology was launched in December 2012 as part of the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
ELSI’s research mission is to elucidate how our planet was formed and how its early environment allowed for the rise of initial life and its subsequent evolution to complexity. What distinguishes ELSI from other institutes studying the origins of life is its emphasis on placing the study in the context of the specific ecological system of the early Earth.
By exploring both the origin and evolution of the Earth and the origins and evolution of life, ELSI is creating a new field called ‘Bioplanetology’ as an interdisciplinary research focus.

Tokyo Tech

Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) is the top national university for science and technology in Japan, with a history spanning more than 130 years.
Enrollment is ~10,000 students, 1,200 of which are international students.
Tokyo Tech is organized into 6 departments, spread over 3 campuses around Tokyo (Ookayama, Suzukakedai, and Tamachi).

Credits: Tokyo Tech

About the conference

Credits: Lucy Kwok (ELSI)

14-18 September 2020, ELSI

The theme of this year's conference is "International Collaboration".
Attendees will be given the option to present their research either as an oral presentation or as a poster (more info here). There will also be an undergraduate digital flash talk contest.
Participants will have the chance to attend a workshop focusing on different aspects of science communication (presentation skills, public engagement, social media).
Keynote speaker(s) and Career Panelists will be announced soon
On the first day of the conference, scientists from ELSI will present their research in a poster session, in order for AbGradCon participants to get to know their work.
The Proposal Writing Retreat (PWR) will occur after the conference (Sep 18-21) in a remote area 1-2 hours away from Tokyo (exact location TBD).

Applications

Applications are now open!

The deadline is March 15th, 2020 (23:59 Japan Time).

ELSI is located in southern Tokyo between the stations Ishikawadai (Tokyu Ikegami line) and Ookayama (Tokyu Meguro line and Tokyu Oimachi line). It takes approximately ~100 minutes to reach ELSI from Narita airport and ~40 minutes from Haneda airport.
Talks will be held at Digital Hall, located near the entrance of the Tokyo Tech campus close to Ookayama Station.
Poster sessions will be held in ELSI-1 Gallery (1F), around 8 minutes walk from Digital Hall.
Field trip locations in the greater Tokyo area reachable by train.
Housing opportunities close to Oimachi station (Tokyu Oimachi line), Gotanda station (Tokyu Ikegami Line, JR Yamanote Line, Toei Asakusa Line) and Kamata station (Tokyu Ikegami line and JR Keihin-Tohoku line).

code of conduct

Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. All event attendees and staff have the right to a space that is free of all forms of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and/or retaliation. Participants who are requested to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to comply immediately. If you wish to report harassment, suspect that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the organizing committee as soon as possible.