Media

Press Conference for International Astronomical Union Symposium 251: Organic Matter in Space - Quest of Life Origin

15 Feb 2008

How did life begin on Earth? This is probably the most important question in science, but also the most difficult to answer. Recent space missions and astronomical observations have, however, shed some light on this problem. The NASA mission STARTDUST has successfully rendezvous with the Comet Wild 2 and brought back samples of the comet to Earth. Analysis of this comet sample has found many organic compounds, suggesting that cometary bombardment during the early history of Earth may have influenced the development of life. Observations from space-based telescopes have also revealed that very old stars can synthesize large quantities of complex organic compounds and spread them throughout the Galaxy. Laboratory studies of meteorites have found dust particles whose origin can be traced to old stars.

These are the subject of the upcoming International Astronomical Union Symposium on Organic Matter in Space, to be held at the University of Hong Kong between February 18 and 22. This is the first time that the International Astronomical Union has held a symposium in Hong Kong. To recognize the importance of this event, the symposium will be opened by the president of the International Astronomical Union, Dr. Catherine Cesarsky, Director General of the European Southern Observatory.

Press members are cordially invited to attend the press conference on the highlights of the symposium, the details are :

Date: February 18, 2008 (Monday)
Time: 3:45pm - 4.45pm (Introductory Speech and Q&A Session)
Venue: Room 902, 9/F, Knowles Building, The University of Hong Kong
Speakers:

• Dr. Catherine Cesarsky (President of the International Astronomical Union and Director General of the European Southern Observatory)
• Dr. Yvonne Pendleton (Senior Advisor for Research and Analysis, NASA Headquarters)
• Dr. Scott Sandford (Scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center, Member of the STARDUST team, and co-chair of the Scientific Organizing Committee)
• Dr. Sun Kwok (Dean of Science, HKU and co-chair of the Scientific Organizing Committee)

Medium: English, with Cantonese translations

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) was founded in 1919. It is the official international body for astronomy and is funded through annual contributions by national governments of countries. Its goal is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation. The IAU is the internationally recognized authority for the official naming of all celestial objects in the sky. In August 2006 at the IAU Assembly held in Prague, an official definition of planet was passed, resulting in the removal of Pluto (冥王星) as a major planet of the solar system. The IAU is also responsible for naming all the asteroids of our solar system, including China (1125, 中國), the first asteroid discovered by a Chinese astronomer, Jinyong (10930, 金庸), and Chanyikhei (20780, 陳易希).

The IAU Symposia (IAUS) are the flagship meeting series of the IAU, whose hosts are decided by a competitive international bidding process. The IAUS 251 would be the first time Hong Kong serves as host of this prestigious series of conferences sponsored by the IAU. The IAUS 251 will be on the topic Organic Matter in Space, a cutting-edge multidisciplinary research field pulling together researchers in astronomy, chemistry, geology, and even biology, to discuss frontiers of the origin, evolution and distribution of organic matter. As the first major international conference on the topic of organic matter in space, it is expected that results reported from the symposium could have significant consequence for our understanding of the origin of life in the solar system and in the universe.

Details of the symposium can be found at www.hku.hk/science/iau251/.

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Cherry Cheung, Senior Manger (Media) HKU at tel: 2859 2606 / mobile: 8208 1686, email: cherry.cheung@hku.hk. For other enquiries, please contact Ms Anisia Tang of the Faculty of Science at 2241 5711.