Guest Lecture: Edwin A. Bergin

Following life’s ingredients from Interstellar Space to Habitable Earth-like Worlds

Edwin A. Bergin is Professor of Astrophysics at University of Michigan, invited by the research center LERMA

In this talk I will explore the origins of Earth’s life-bearing elements - particularly oxygen and carbon.  I will being with motivating the fact that Earth is a carbon and water-poor world - which is an amazing statement given the diversity of life on our living planet. Tracing the origins requires exploring the beginnings of stars and planets. I will describe the astronomical techniques that we use to search for major carriers of oxygen and carbon, particularly water, carbon monoxide, and organics. Then we will follow their story from the beginnings of the star from an interstellar cloud of gas and tiny solids into planetary birth to determine how common these ingredients are in the formation of Earth-like planets. I will end with a discussion  of the search for planets like our own and how we will explore whether we are alone in the Universe.

Download his CV

Date: Tuesday, June 21, 2018 from 12:30 à 14:00

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