14
C. J. N. Nováková
exchange of ideas and new results between scientists from many countries and disciplines, a task that only larger research communities, like the European Research
Area, can accomplish.
In order to take astrobiology-related research forward and to prevent a counterproductive fragmentation of the European astrobiology research community through
duplicate or excessively overlapping initiatives and structures, the AstroMap Report
(drawn up under the EU FP7 programme) unequivocally recommends the creation of
a pan-European platform for research, training outreach and dissemination in
Astrobiology. EAI has been founded in May 2019 during its first General Assembly
in Liblice (Czech Republic).
The European Astrobiology Institute (EAI) aims to function as such an entity. Such
an institute is required to maintain Europe’s leading position in this interdisciplinary
field, compared to other countries and regions. The EAI closely collaborate with
several related European organisations, including the European Space Agency (ESA)
and the European Astrobiology Network Association (EANA), but act as a network
of institutions that fundamentally differs from existing bodies [1].
A consortium of representatives of European Research Organisations, which was
formed as a result of the initiatives of the COST Action “Origins and Evolution of Life
on Earth and in the universe” (Action Identity TD1308), EANA and the Erasmus +
Strategic Partnership “European Astrobiology Campus” (EAC), has taken the initiative to create a virtual institute named the “European Astrobiology Institute” (EAI)
with the ambition of enabling Europe to emerge as a key player in astrobiology and
to develop a general spirit of cooperation and collaboration throughout the European
planetary science community. In this way, these communities continue to keep the
momentum of the COST Action and EAC initiatives whose grant periods terminated
during the Academic Year 2017/2018 and which received excellent reviews (both
initiatives were highlighted as success stories by the EU). The Istituto Nazionale di
Astrofisica to which the first author belongs is one of the six EAI’s core organizations.
General aim of the EAI. The European Astrobiology Institute (EAI) is a consortium
of European research and higher education institutions and organisations as well as
other stakeholders and aims to carry out research, training, outreach and dissemination activities in astrobiology in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, thereby
securing a leading role of the European Research Area in the field.
Among the main objectives of EAI, besides performing and disseminating groundbreaking research on key scientific questions in astrobiology with a cooperative
interdisciplinary approach, there is also the coordination of public and education
activities of European astrobiologists to the general public, industry and all other
relevant stakeholders [1].
Public engagement and Education. EAI has six scientific Thematic Working
Groups and seven Activity Working Groups, among which there are the two of our
interest in this article: “Outreach, media and corporate identity” and “Education”.
There are also smaller groups on special themes or missions, which have been called
C. J. N. Nováková
exchange of ideas and new results between scientists from many countries and disciplines, a task that only larger research communities, like the European Research
Area, can accomplish.
In order to take astrobiology-related research forward and to prevent a counterproductive fragmentation of the European astrobiology research community through
duplicate or excessively overlapping initiatives and structures, the AstroMap Report
(drawn up under the EU FP7 programme) unequivocally recommends the creation of
a pan-European platform for research, training outreach and dissemination in
Astrobiology. EAI has been founded in May 2019 during its first General Assembly
in Liblice (Czech Republic).
The European Astrobiology Institute (EAI) aims to function as such an entity. Such
an institute is required to maintain Europe’s leading position in this interdisciplinary
field, compared to other countries and regions. The EAI closely collaborate with
several related European organisations, including the European Space Agency (ESA)
and the European Astrobiology Network Association (EANA), but act as a network
of institutions that fundamentally differs from existing bodies [1].
A consortium of representatives of European Research Organisations, which was
formed as a result of the initiatives of the COST Action “Origins and Evolution of Life
on Earth and in the universe” (Action Identity TD1308), EANA and the Erasmus +
Strategic Partnership “European Astrobiology Campus” (EAC), has taken the initiative to create a virtual institute named the “European Astrobiology Institute” (EAI)
with the ambition of enabling Europe to emerge as a key player in astrobiology and
to develop a general spirit of cooperation and collaboration throughout the European
planetary science community. In this way, these communities continue to keep the
momentum of the COST Action and EAC initiatives whose grant periods terminated
during the Academic Year 2017/2018 and which received excellent reviews (both
initiatives were highlighted as success stories by the EU). The Istituto Nazionale di
Astrofisica to which the first author belongs is one of the six EAI’s core organizations.
General aim of the EAI. The European Astrobiology Institute (EAI) is a consortium
of European research and higher education institutions and organisations as well as
other stakeholders and aims to carry out research, training, outreach and dissemination activities in astrobiology in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, thereby
securing a leading role of the European Research Area in the field.
Among the main objectives of EAI, besides performing and disseminating groundbreaking research on key scientific questions in astrobiology with a cooperative
interdisciplinary approach, there is also the coordination of public and education
activities of European astrobiologists to the general public, industry and all other
relevant stakeholders [1].
Public engagement and Education. EAI has six scientific Thematic Working
Groups and seven Activity Working Groups, among which there are the two of our
interest in this article: “Outreach, media and corporate identity” and “Education”.
There are also smaller groups on special themes or missions, which have been called