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For more information, including registration, go here.

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Call for Papers

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Social and Ethical Frontiers in Space

A joint meeting of the

European Astrobiology Institute

and the

Society for Social and Conceptual Issues in Astrobiology

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September 23-25, 2024
Kiruna, Sweden

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Experts from every discipline interested in exploring the many complex social and ethical questions raised by space exploration and the search for life on other planets are invited to attend the first joint meeting of the two major groups devoted to this end. We welcome submissions addressing any of the many “broader questions” in astrobiology and space exploration such as:

  • Commercial activity in space

  • Human colonization of other worlds

  • The true nature of “life”

  • The moral status of ETL/ETI

  • Balancing diverse cultural perspectives

  • Space Mining

  • Ownership of space “resources”

  • First Contact protocols

  • “Pollution” in the context of space

  • Religious implications of contact

  • Fictional portrayals of space

  • Emerging issues in space law

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This year, we are very fortunate to have lined up an excellent keynote speaker in Dr. Tony Milligan from Kings College, London. Dr. Milligan’s research focuses on otherness: other humans, other creatures, other places and how the shift between here and there alters our sense of what matters. His work in space ethics includes Nobody Owns the Moon: The Ethics of Space Exploitation (MacFarland, 2015) and the co-edited volume The Ethics of Space Exploration (Springer, 2016).

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Kiruna, located some 300 km north of the arctic circle, is home to the Swedish Estrange Space Center and Rocket Range. At this time of year, attendees should be able to see both splendid fall colors as well as the northern lights.


If you wish to be considered, submit a 250-word abstract for a presentation or poster (please specify) by June 1, 2024 to the program chair, Kelly Smith (kcs@clemson.edu). Additional information about the conference will be posted to our website (https://europeanastrobiology.eu/astrobiology-and-society-kiruna-2024/) when it becomes available. Graduate students are especially encouraged to apply and we anticipate having support to facilitate their participation.

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