BEACON Keynote Speakers

Janice Bishop

SETI, USA

Bertram Bitsch

MPIA Heidelberg, Germany

Michael Gillon​

University of Liège, Belgium​

Lisa Kaltenegger

Cornell University, USA

Nancy Kiang

NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre, USA

Michel Mayor

Geneva University, Switzerland

Dennis Höning

Potsdam-Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany

BEACON Topics

Evolution and Traces of Early Life and Life under Extreme Condition

Biosignatures and the Detection of Life beyond Earth

Historical, Philosophical, Societal and Ethical Issues in Astrobiology

Tracing Life and Identifying Habitable Environments

Impacts and their Role in the Evolution of Planets, Moons and Life

Protoplanetary disks and their physical and chemical processes

Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems and Detection of Habitable Worlds

The Pathway to Complexity: From Simple Molecules to First Life​

Planetary Environments and Habitability​

BEACON Programme

The Biennial European Astrobiology Conference (BEACON) will take place at the La Palma &Teneguia Princess Hotel on La Palma Island (Canary Islands, Spain) from 8-12 May 2023. The programme starts on 8th May in the morning and ends  on 13th in the evening. There will be 8 invited talks (30 min) and 30 contributed talks (15 minutes). Also three poster session will take place on Monday 8th, Tuesday 9th and Thursday 11th.  On Wednesday 10th there will be an excursion to view the site of the 2021 eruption and to one or two of the Telescopes on La Palma. An after conference-walk on the Ruta de Volcanes on Saturday 13th May as well as a walk on the close-by Teneguia lava field on Tuesday 9th and Thursday 11th will be organised. During this meeting also the 5th General Assembly of the EAI will take place. Scientific sessions are planned covering the following themes:

  • Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems and Detection of Habitable Worlds
  • The Pathway to Complexity: From Simple Molecules to First Life
  • Planetary Environments and Habitability
  • Evolution and Traces of Early Life and Life under Extreme Condition
  • Biosignatures and the Detection of Life beyond Earth
  • Historical, Philosophical, Societal and Ethical Issues in Astrobiology
  • Tracing Life and Identifying Habitable Environments
  • Impacts and their Role in the Evolution of Planets, Moons and Life
  • Protoplanetary disks and their physical and chemical processes
  • Oncoming Mars missions

See the detailed schedule below.’

3 poster sessions will be held during the conference. Poster boards are 2.44 m in height and 1.21 m in breadth. Background is white. Please use only double-sided tape, double sided stickers or Blue-tack for fixing posters. Pins or magnets won’t work. 

AbGradE Schedule (preliminary)

For those of you taking part at the satellite meeting of the Early Career Scientist organisations Astrobiology Graduates Europe (AbGradE) and Europlanet Early Career Network (EPEC) which will take place right before BEACON, the meeting will consist of three days of a scientific programme with plenty of room for talks by early career scientists.

Thursday, 4 May

  • Satellite Event For Early Career Researchers

    An icebreaker get-together
    Introductory talks by early-career scientists for people new to the field.

Friday, 5 May

  • Morning: Satellite Event For Early Career Researchers

    An icebreaker get-together
    Introductory talks by early-career scientists for people new to the field.

  • Afternoon: Excursion to new volcano

    An excursion to the new volcano and other interesting volcanologcal sights

Saturday, 6 May

  • Day: Satellite Event For Early Career Researchers

    An icebreaker get-together
    Introductory talks by early-career scientists for people new to the field.

  • Evening: "Music and Astrobiology"

    Outreach event, music and astrobiology

BEACON Schedule

Sun, 7 May

  • BEACON Check-in

    Check-in and EAI outreach activities for participants.

Mon, 8 May

  • Morning and Afternoon: Scientific Programme

    Invited talks (30 min) and contributed talks (15 minutes).

  • Evening: Poster Session I

Tue, 9 May

  • Morning and early afternoon: Conference Programme

    Invited talks (30 min) and contributed talks (15 minutes).

  • Late afternoon: Teneguia lava field walk EUR 15,-

    A facultative walk over the Teneguia lava field from the 1971 eruption. We wil go by bus to the Teneguia Visitors'centre and see the exhibition there. after that we walk down over the lava field to the lighthouse "Faro de Fuencaliente and have a walk around the salt gardens "Salinas". Good walking shoes and gloves (e-tip gloves, walking gloves or gardening gloves, no washing-up gloves please) are a must. There are no restrooms on the way, but at the start and the end of the walk (see Practical webpage for equipment).

    Walk features:
    Distance: 5 km
    Climb: <30 m
    Descent: 500 m
    Walking time 1.5 - 2 hours

  • 16h: EAI General Assembly
  • Evening: Poster Session II

Wed, 10 May

  • Excursion to Caldeira de Taburiente, new volcano & telescopes EUR 60,-

    We will set out early to the new Volcanoe Cumbrecita viewpoint at the rim of the Caldera de Taburiente. Then we will then go up to the Roque de los Muchachos and have lunch on the way (included in excursion fees). Thereafter we will visit one or two of the Telescopes on La Palma. Thereafter we will have a short stop on the Roque de los Muchachos, the highest point of the island. Then we will go down along the west side crossing several characteristic valleys (barrancos) of La Palma stopping at the Mirador del Time. Time allowing, we will have a stop at Los Llanos de Aridane with its picturesque town centre and the Archeological Museum which gives a very nice introduction into the history, vegetation and geography of the island. Thereafter we return back to the conference hotel. Please note that this programme is preliminary and can be changed due to unforseen circumstances.

Thursday, 11 May

  • Morning and afternoon: Conference Programme

    Invited talks (30 min) and contributed talks (15 minutes).

  • Evening: Teneguia lava field walk EUR 15,-

    A facultative walk over the Teneguia lava field from the 1971 eruption. We wil go by bus to the Teneguia Visitors'centre and see the exhibition there. after that we walk down over the lava field to the lighthouse "Faro de Fuencaliente and have a walk around the salt gardens "Salinas". Good walking shoes and gloves (e-tip gloves, walking gloves or gardening gloves, no washing-up gloves please) are a must. There are no restrooms on the way, but at the start and the end of the walk (see Practical webpage for equipment).

    Walk features:
    Distance: 5 km
    Climb: <30 m
    Descent: 500 m
    Walking time 1.5 - 2 hours

  • Evening: Poster Session III

Friday, 12 May

  • Morning and Afternoon: Scientific Programme

    Invited talks (30 min) and contributed talks (15 minutes).

  • Evening: Conference Banquet EUR 90,-

    4-course dinner with Canary Island specialities

Saturday, 13 May

  • Ruta de Volcanes walk EUR 45,-

    Walk on the famous Ruta de los Volcanes. The trail starts at Refugio de Pilár and runs over the ridge "Cumbre Nueva" at altitudes up to over 2000m. The walk is strenuous but offers interesting volcano craters, geological locations including historic lava fields and, clear weather provided, stunning views. Walking boots covering the ankles, sunhat, backpack, sunscreen and enough water are a must and walking sticks and gloves a good idea (see Practical webpage for equipment).

    Walks Features:

    Distance: 20 km
    Climb: 600 m
    Descent: 1400 m
    Walking time 8 hours
    Please note that there are no restrooms, cafes or water supplies along the walk. The walk might be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions or the situation of the 2021 La Palma volcano. In that case an alternative programme will be organised.

Sunday, 14 May

  • Conference Checkout & Departure