Exoplanets by the Lake IV: Geoastronomy and Origins of Life

About Exoplanets by the Lake

Exoplanets by the Lake is a signature series that aims for an interactive, in-person summer school format among participants that is not easily achievable online. In 2026, our focus is on the geosciences of exoplanets, also known as "geoastronomy", and its connections to the origins of life. This vibrant research area is highly interdisciplinary and unifies knowledge from the Earth, planetary and exoplanet sciences.

The distinctive features of the summer school include:

• Emphasis on in-person interaction at an attractive, self-contained venue with at most 20 participants. The number of participants is kept small in order to encourage unrestricted, interactive discussions among exoplanet scientists of all sub-disciplines and seniority.
• The event will be held for 5.5 days (5 nights). The first 3 weekdays involve pedagogical lectures during the day. There is an optional half-day excursion, via ship on the lake. The last 2 days feature a mini-conference format, where a small number of invited experts share their views and interact with the participants. Participants have the chance to contribute short talks, if desired.

The intended audience of this summer school ranges from Master students to junior postdocs. Both experts and curious newcomers to the topic are welcome to attend. Senior scientists who are intending to switch research directions and/or attending as active listeners are also welcome.

All details about the summer school, speakers and programme here:
Exoplanets by the Lake IV: Geoastronomy and Origins of Life