Meeting: Life in the Universe
October 24 – 28, 2022
Sofia, Bulgaria
MAIN & ATTENDEES
AGENDA
SPEAKERS
POSTER SESSION
LOCATION/TRAVEL/REIMBURSEMENT
TALK VIDEOS ON IPOLS YOUTUBE CHANNEL
ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP
Ever since the dawn of human civilization, the problem of defining life and searching for its occurrence has been of great interest. One might even argue that along with the emergence of intelligence and consciousness, the understanding of life itself is one of the premier scientific issues of our time. Over the past decades, there have been major achievements in astronomy, such as the discovery of exoplanets in amazing abundance; chemistry, such as the development of synthetic networks with overlap to geochemical processes; quantitative biology, such as our ability to increasingly understand in detail the workings of processes underlying living systems and the existence of all manner of extremophiles; and the studies of geochemistry and the fossil record of the early earth. These achievements, if brought together, offer the possibility of yielding major breakthroughs for the aforementioned scientific questions.
To facilitate such a fruitful transdisciplinary interaction, we are organizing a research meeting to take place in Sofia, Bulgaria the week of October 24-27, 2022. We plan to invite both leading experts and early career researchers from the relevant research areas and discover opportunities for cross-fertilization between subfields. Our aim is to create the seeds of major progress in our understanding of life. Fields to be represented at the planned meeting include:
- Exoplanets: their detection, dynamics, and remote sensing thereof
- Geophysics, geochemistry and the connections between prebiotic chemistry and the origins of life
- Synthetic cells and minimal organisms
- Quantitative approaches to biological networks such as those responsible for metabolism in living systems
- Life in harsh environments; the search for extraterrestrial life in the solar system
In order to undertake this effort, we have assembled an Advisory Board of conference attendees. This group will help arrange the scientific program and direct the discussions toward accomplishing the stated goals.
ORGANIZERS
Nikolai Denkov, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Milena Georgieva, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
Anastas Gospodinov, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
Herbert Levine, Northeastern University, USA
Zan Luthey-Schulten, UIUC, USA
Didier Queloz, University of Cambridge, UK
Dimitar Sasselov, Harvard University, USA
Evgeni Semkov, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
Trifon Trifonov, Max Planck Institute, Germany and Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Neal Woodbury, Arizona State University, USA
CONFIRMED PARTICIPANTS [more on Meeting Speakers with Bio Links]
PIs, Professors & Senior Scientists
Kate Adamala, University of Minnesota, USA
Antoaneta Antonova, Institute of Astronomy and NAO, BAS, Bulgaria
Latchezar Avramov, Institute of Electronis, BAS, Bulgaria
Rory Barnes, University of Washington, NASA, USA
Krastan Blagoev, National Science Foundation, Johns Hopkins University, USA / Institute of Molecular Biology, BAS, Bulgaria
Tanyu Bonev, Institute of Astronomy and NAO, BAS, Bulgaria
Ivan Buchvarov, Physics Department Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski” PI, Bulgaria
Marusya Buchvarova SRTI-BAS, Bulgaria
Lars Buchhave, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU), Denmark
José Caballero, CSIC–INTA, Spain
David Catling, University of Washington, USA
Krasimira Chakarova, ACS
Nikolai Denkov, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Jordan Doumanov, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Petar Eftimov, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Venelin Enchev, Inst. Gen. and Inorg. Chemistry, BAS, Bulgaria
Angel Garcia, National Science Foundation, USA
Georgi Georgiev, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Anastas Gospodinov, BAS, Bulgaria
Irep Gözen, University of Oslon, Norway
Temenouga Guecheva, Institute of Molecular Biology “Roumen Tsanev”, BAS, Bulgaria
Lubomir Iliev, Institute of Astronomy, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
Petar Kenderov, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Bulgaria
Rosita Kokotanekova, Institute of Astronomy and National Astronomical Observatory, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria & University of Edinburgh, UK
Renada Konstantinova-Antova, Institute of Astronomy and NAO, BAS, Bulgaria
Veselin Kostov, SETI Institute, USA
Margarita Kouzmanova, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Kamen Kozarev, Institute of Astronomy, BAS, Bulgaria
Dimiter Kunnev, University at Buffalo, USA
Herbert Levine, Northeastern University, USA
Tim Lichtenberg, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Mariya Lyubenova, European Southern Observatory (ESO), Germany
Dimitar Marvakov, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Roumyana Mironova, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Molecular Biology Roumen Tsanev, Bulgaria
Stephen Mojzsis, University Colorado, USA & Hungarian Academy of Science
Ron Naaman, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
Kamen Nedev, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Vincent Noireaux, University of Minnesota, USA
Tsvetelina Paunska, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Ben Pearce, Johns Hopkins University, USA
Juan Perez-Mercader, Harvard University, USA
Peicho Petkov, University of Sofia, Bulgaria
Svetla Petrova, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Matthew Powner, University College London, UK
Sascha Quanz, ETH Zurich, CH
Didier Queloz, Cambridge University, UK
Galina Radeva, Institute of Molecular Biology, BAS, Bulgaria
Rebecca Rapf, Trinity University, USA
Lynn Rothschild, NASA, USA
Saveez Saffarian, University of Utah, USA
Dimitar Sasselov, Harvard University, USA
Lyuba Slavcheva-Mihova, Institute of Astronomy & NAO, Bulgaria
Eric Smith, Santa Fe Institute, Earth-Life Science Institute, Ronin Institute, USA
Lyiba Srebreva, Institute of Molecular Biology Roumen Tsanev, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
Ivanka Stateva, Institute of Astronomy and NAO, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
Nadezhda Stefanova, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Stoyno Stoynov, Institute of Molecular Biology, BAS, Bulgaria
John Sutherland, University of Cambridge, UK
Boyan Todorov, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Albena Todorova, GMDL “Genica”, Bulgaria
Jordana Todorova, Institute of Molecular Biology, BAS, Bulgaria
Nicholas Tosca, University of Cambridge, UK
Trifon Trifonov, Max Planck Institute, Germany and Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Irina Tsaneva, University College London, UK
Rositsa Tsekovska, Institute of Molecular Biology, BAS, Bulgaria
Svetla Tsvetkova, Institute of Astronomy and NAO, BAS, Bulgaria
Rumiana Tzoneva, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgaria
Iva Uginova, Institute of Molecular Biology, BAS, Bulgaria
Antoniya Valcheva, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Todor Veltchev, University of Sofia, Department of Astronomy, Bulgaria
Teodora Vukova, IBFBMI-BAS, Bulgaria
Loren Williams, Georgia Tech, USA
Shazie Yusein-Myashkova, Institute of Molecular Biology, BAS, Bulgaria
Olga Zakhozhay, MAO-Kyiv, Ukraine/ MPIA, Heidelberg, Germany
Postdocs, Graduate Students, Students & Guests
Karina Angelieva, Media, Bulgaria
Boyana Angelova, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Desislava Antonova, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Sonia Apostolova, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgaria
Aleksandar Atemin, Acad.George Bonchev 21, bl 21. IMB, BAS, Bulgaria
Debkumar Bhowmick, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
Ivan Bogdanov, IMB-BAS, Bulgaria
Borislava Borisova, Laboratory “Transmembrane Signaling“, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, BAS, Bulgaria
Vladimir Bozhilov, Department of Astronomy, Faculty of Physics, Sofia University, Bulgaria
Diana Cholakova, Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Sofia University, Bulgaria
Andrew Cummins, University College London, UK
Konstantin Delchev, IMI-BAS, Bulgaria
Momchil Dechev, Institute of Astronomy with NAO, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
Dimitar Dimitrov, Sofia University “St. Kl.Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Sylvia Djoneva, Djoneva Media, Bulgaria
Deiana Drakova, Sofia University “St. Kl.Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Viola Eduard, Sofia University “St. Kl.Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Béla Frohn, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Germany
Nana Gancheva, Student, Bulgaria
Valentin Genov, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Bulgaria
Irina Georgieva, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering – BAS, Bulgaria
Desislava Glushkova, Sofia University, Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Bulgaria
Valkan Goranov, MediaBricks.bg Media, Bulgaria
Sebastian Haas, University of Washington, USA
Yordan Handzhiyski, Institute of Molecular Biology ” acad. Roumen Tsanev'”
Janina Hansen, ETH Zurich, CH
Philipp Huber, ETH Zurich, CH
Ivaylo Ivanov, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Aneliya Ivanova, IMB, BAS, Sofia
Petar-Bogomil Kanev, Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
Lyubomir Kenderov, Sofia University, Bulgaria
Nikola Kerekov, RATIO, Science Outreach Media, Bulgaria
Vladislav Lambrev, Elido, Bulgaria
Ariana Langari, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, BAS, Bulgaria
R. O. Parke Loyd, Eureka Scientific, Inc., USA
Lia Mancheva, Molecular biology Sofia University, Bulgaria
Shesha Gopal Marehalli, Srinivas University of Luxembourg
Nadezhda Markova, National Astronomical Observatory, BAS, Bulgaria
Dimitrios Michas, Economic & Commercial Affairs, Embassy of Greece in Sofia
Vyara Mihova, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Mariya Mincheva, BAS, Bulgaria
Blagovest Mladenov, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Asen Mutafov, IA NAO BAS, Bulgaria
Sukru Furkan Ozturk, Harvard University, USA
Martin Pantov, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Momchil Paunov, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Michaela Pechlivanova, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Miroslava Petrova, Student Medical Physics, Bulgaria
Katya Popova, INRNE, BAS, Bulgaria
Alexandre Revol, Geneva Observatory, Geneva University, CH
Garrett Roberts Kingman, NASA Postdoctoral Program, Ames Research Center, USA
Sucheol Shin, University of Texas at Austin, USA
Magdalena Sibinova, Student, Bulgaria
Rumen Stamatov, Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
Stefan Stefanov, Astronomy and National Astronomical Observatory, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
Denitza Stoeva, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Tzvetina Stoycheva, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Hristiana Stoycheva, Student, Bulgaria
Petar Teodosiev, Media
Zoe Todd, University of Washington, USA
Tihomir Todorov, GMDL “Genica”, Bulgaria
Radoslav Todorov, Media
Viktoria Todorova, Physics Department, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Hristo Tonchev, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Saša Topić, Institute of Physics – Center for Photonics, Belgrade University, Serbia
Isaac Tsvetanov, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Alexander Tzintzarov, Institute of molecular biology “Roumen Tsanev”, BAS, Bulgaria
Ajay Verma, The City of Paris Industrial Physics and Chemistry Higher Educational Institution (ESPCI Paris), France
Zlatina Vlahova, Institute of Molecular Biology, BAS, Bulgaria
Daniel Whitaker, University College London, UK
Skyla White, University of Cambridge, UK
COORDINATORS
Rossitza Donkova, Action Global Communication, Bulgaria
Venelina Mihova, Action Global Communication, Bulgaria
Ivalina Pavlova, Action Global Communications, Bulgaria
Sara Bradley, US Coordinator Email
Workshop funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund the National Science Foundation USA
MAIN & ATTENDEES
AGENDA
SPEAKERS
POSTER SESSION
LOCATION/TRAVEL/REIMBURSEMENT
TALK VIDEOS ON IPOLS YOUTUBE CHANNEL