›Summer school „Biosignatures and the search for life on Mars“

The summer school "Biosignatures and the Search For Life on Mars", which will be held in Iceland from 4 to 16 July 2016, aims to cover the subject of the search for life in different environments, both on early Earth, below Earth's surface and on Mars. It will bring together students and researchers from a multitude of different fields. Field studies on the colonisation of lava fields and Mars analogue landscapes will complement the lectures. The programme of the summer school comprises:

•lectures by internationally leading scientists covering a broad range of subjects on biosignatures with the focus on detection of life on Mars
•investigation of colonisation of fresh lava fields and Mars analogue landscapes with in situ life detection techniques
•excursions to geologically and astrobiologically interesting sites:
•Kerlingarfjöll hot spring area
•Barðabunga lava field
•Námaskarð geothermal area
•Krafla volcanic area
•the Mars analogue landscapes at Askja
•the Myvatn area with the Skútustaðir pseudocraters and the Hverfjall cinder cone
•a poster sessions for students and early career scientists
•participant-led discussions

The deadline for application is 31 March 2016 23:59:00 UTC.