Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today

1. Introduction.- 2. Astrobiology and Society in Europe.- 3. The International Context of Astrobiology.- 4. Society, Worldview and Outreach.- 5. Environment and Sustainability.- 6. Education, Training and Scholarship.- 7. Technological Innovation and Commerce.- 8. Science and Research.- 9. Leading the Future of Astrobiology in Europe.- 10. Appendices.

Dr Klara Anna Capova is an anthropologist working in science and technology studies, specialising in the social study of astrobiology and anthropology of outer space. In 2013, she completed her doctoral research on scientific search for life beyond earth, Durham University, UK. Her recent work includes the study of transformations of human relations to outer space, popular perceptions of science, and societal context of space exploration. Dr Capova is currently a honorary research associate at Durham University, UK. Klara is a member of the WG5 on Philosophy and History of Science, of the COST Action TD1308 ORIGINS and evolution of life on Earth and in the Universe;  a member of the European Astrobiology Network Association, Astrobiology Society of Britain and a member of the Scientific Organizing Committee of the International Working Group on Astrobioethics. She is active in delivering talks worldwide as well as acts as an associate researcher and project consultant in societalaspects of space and society, and science and technology.

Dr Erik Persson received his PhD in Practical Philosophy from Lund University, where he is now working as a reseracher at the Department of Philosophy. He has also worked as researcher at the Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences, as researcher and Principal Investigator at the Pufendorf Institute of Advanced Studies, as Research Fellow at the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, as Senior Scientist at The Nordic Genetic Resource Center, and as Senior Lecturer at Umeå University. His research is primarily focused on applied ethics, especially, environmental ethics, space ethics and ethical aspects of emerging technologies.


Dr Tony Milligan is the author of a series of books including Nobody Owns the Moon: The Ethics of Space Exploitation (2015), as well as a co-editor of various volumes, including The Ethics of Space Exploration (2016). He is a Teaching Fellow in Ethics and the Philosophy of