The Gordon Research Seminar on Origins of Life is a unique forum for graduate students, post-docs, and other scientists with comparable levels of experience and education to present and exchange new data and cutting-edge ideas.
Origins of life studies have long approached the problem by focusing on the prebiotic synthesis of modern, biologically relevant molecules and the conditions under which their synthesis is favored. Such an approach has led to descriptive models for the prebiotic synthesis, reactivity, and polymerization of such compounds, yet more general reaction trends and the extent to which prebiotic systems can chemically evolve over time remains an open question. Moreover, researchers continue to seek consensus regarding the environments deemed tenable for abiogenesis on other worlds and the best approach to detect such life. Given this, it is critical to question existing axioms and preconceived notions about the early Earth and its chemistry. In particular, this conference aims to challenge paradigms in prebiotic chemistry to generate new conversations that facilitate the development of novel strategies the field can use to investigate the origins of life.
Learn more about the conference Environments for the Origins of Life and Habitability (23-28 January) by GRC which follows this seminar on Challenging Paradigms in Prebiotic Chemistry.