Life and humans
in space
13th ELSI International Symposium 2025
As humanity's exploration of space accelerates, the discovery of potentially habitable environments within our Solar System and beyond presents profound opportunities for multidisciplinary research. Mars, the icy moons of the outer planets, and terrestrial planets in the habitable zone, potentially offer conditions such as liquid water, chemical energy, and bio-essential elements that may support life. Meanwhile, initiatives like NASA’s Artemis program aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and lay the groundwork for future missions to Mars. The confluence of these advancements in astrobiology with commitments to expanding human presence in space makes this an ideal time to bring academics and industry experts together.
The 13th ELSI International Symposium on 'Life and Humans in Space' is designed to address these pressing challenges by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among experts in astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, medicine, social sciences, sociology, literature, and design aesthetics. The symposium will provide a platform for exploring space exploration's scientific, technological, and societal implications, with a particular emphasis on the search for extraterrestrial life and the future of human activities in space. The Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), with its exceptionally interdisciplinary research approach, has the potential to lead in solving these complex challenges. By integrating diverse perspectives, the conference aims to contribute to a holistic understanding of life in space and envision humanity's role in these new frontiers.
Overview
Dates: Tuesday-Thursday, 7-9 January 2025
Location: X-NIHONBASHI TOWER, Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan
Scientific Organizing Committee: Yasuhito Sekine (chair), Mary Voytek, Eric Smith, Kosuke Fujishima, Harrison Smith, Thilina Heenatigala
Local Organizing Committee: Yasuhito Sekine (chair), Thilina Heenatigala, Naohiro Terasaka, Shintaro Kadoya, Kei Kurita, Harumi Tanaka, Akiko Tanaka
Abstract of the Symposium: The symposium aims to bring together our colleagues from Japan and around the world to delve into the theme each day focused on:
Day 1: Science and Engineering for Future Space Exploration
Day 2: Space and Life Sciences for Finding Life Beyond Earth
Day 3: Space Humanity for Perspectives on the Future
Schedule (Japan Standard Time)
TUESDAY 7, January
Day 1: Science and Engineering for Future Space Exploration
Morning Sessions
09:00-10:00 Registration and Coffee
10:00-10:15 Welcome and Day 1 thematic discourse by Yasuhito Sekine
10:15-11:00 Masaki Fujimoto (JAXA/ISAS) - "Science-engineering synergy is what makes ISAS/JAXA rolling"
11:00-11:45 Kalind Carpenter (NASA/JPL)- "Searching for life in our solar system and beyond"
11:45-13:45 Lunch Break
Afternoon Sessions
13:45-14:30 Takeshi Hakamada (ispace, inc.) - "Expand our planet, Expand our future - the world's leading commercial lunar transporter"
14:30-15:15 Hannah Kerner (ASU)
15:15-15:45 Coffee Break
15:45-16:30 Discussion Session moderated by Yasuhito Sekine (ELSI)
16:30-17:15 Yusuke Taguchi (Axiom Space)
17:15-17:30 Conclusions of Day 1
WEDNESDAY, 8 January
Day 2: Space and Life Sciences for Finding Life Beyond Earth
Morning Sessions
09:30-10:30 Poster Session with Coffee
10:30-10:35 Day 2 Thematic Discourse
10:35-11:10 Kunihiko Kaneko (Niels Bohr Institute) - "Universal Biology: A Physicit's Approach to 'What is Life'"
11:10-11:45 Aaron Regberg (NASA/JSC) - ”Mars Sample Return: Preparing for Biologically Sensitive Samples”
11:45-13:45 Lunch Break
Afternoon Sessions
13:45-14:30 Frank Postberg (Berlin Freie Univ) -"Exploring the habitability of ocean moons by mass spectrometry of emitted ice grains"
14:30-15:15 Yuki Morono (JAMSTEC) - "Looking for life in deep subseafloor habitat: approaching the limit of Earth biosphere"
15:15-15:45 Coffee Break
15:45-16:30 Discussion Session
16:30-17:15 Tomoaki Matsuura (ELSI) - "Artificial cells that respond to chemical and physical oscillation"
17:15-17:30 Conclusions of Day 2
17:30-18:00 Break
18:00-21:00 Banquet
THURSDAY, 9 January
Day 3: Space Humanity for Perspectives on the Future
Morning Sessions
09:30-10:30 Poster Session with Coffee
10:30-10:35 Day 3 Thematic Discourse
10:35-11:10 Caleb Scharf (NASA/Ames) - "Are we the ultimate astrobiological experiment?"
11:10-11:45 Emily Baldwin (North Star Content/EJR-Quartz/ESA) - "Impactful Communications in Space Exploration: Past, Present, and Future"
11:45-13:45 Lunch Break
Afternoon Sessions
13:45-14:30 Koji Fujita (Science Tokyo) - "Measurement of human movement and its application to early detection of disease"
14:30-15:15 Natlie Trevino (Open Univ.)
15:15-15:45 Coffee Break
15:45-16:30 Discussion Session moderated by Eric Smith (ELSI)
16:30-17:15 Darlene Lim (NASA/Ames) -"Real-time collaborative science decisioning systems for Moon to Mars human-robotic exploration"
17:15-17:30 Conclusions of Day 3 and Symposium
Location/Access
Cross-U X-NIHONBASHI TOWER, Tokyo, Japan
7F Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, Nihonbashi Muromachi 2-1-1, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Registration
All attendees are requested to fill out the following registration form, and this will (1) tell us how to list your name and affiliation for your badge, (2) inform us whether you will attend the banquet so that we know how much food and drink to order, (3) allow you to submit an abstract for the poster session, and (4) allow you to inform us about any special needs or assistance you may require. This conference has no registration fee (although there will be a separate charge to attend the optional banquet).
Please register if you plan to attend. The registration deadline is 30 November 2024, extended to 27 December. If your browser has trouble rendering the embedded registration form below, click here to go directly to the form. If you can't access Google Forms, please download the form here and submit the filled form to LOC (sympo13_loc@elsi.jp).
Our poster sessions are lively and active events and an integral part of the symposium. Please submit an abstract via the registration form by 30 November 2024 extended to 10 December. Poster display boards and necessary attachment hardware will be provided. Our poster boards are optimized for A0 size in portrait orientation (841mm wide × 1189mm tall).
Symposium Banquet
We will hold our symposium banquet from 18:00 to 21:00 on Wednesday, 8 January. A variety of food and drinks will be provided.
Banquet fee (please pay at the registration)
ELSI PI and A-PI: 3,000 JPY
Visitor, Researcher, Postdoc: 2,000 JPY
Students: 1,000 JPY
Aftershops
13-17 January (the week following the 13th ELSI Symposium) a series of smaller and more focused follow-up "aftershops" will be held at ELSI. Participants are welcome to suggest and organise aftershops.
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.
