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SUMMARY:LIFE Beyond Earth: Exploring Exoplanets and the Future of Italian 
 Astrobiology
DTSTART:20260312T100000Z
DTEND:20260313T130000Z
DTSTAMP:20260614T131600Z
UID:indico-event-3484@indico.ict.inaf.it
CONTACT:riccardo.claudi@inaf.it\;eleonora.alei@nasa.gov\;emanuele.pace@uni
 fi.it
DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Riccardo Claudi (Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (
 INAF))\, Emanuele Pace (UNI FI)\, Eleonora Alei (Istituto Nazionale di Ast
 rofisica (INAF))\n\n\nIn the coming decades\, the search for life beyond o
 ur Solar System will stand as one of humanity’s most profound scientific
  frontiers. The LIFE mission (Large Interferometer For Exoplanets)\, curre
 ntly under study in Europe\, represents a visionary step toward this goal 
 — aiming to directly detect and characterize the atmospheres of Earth-li
 ke planets orbiting nearby stars. By exploring the intricate interplay bet
 ween light\, chemistry\, and habitability\, LIFE seeks to address the most
  compelling question of modern astronomy: Are there other worlds like our
  own? The national workshop “LIFE Beyond Earth: Exploring Exoplanets an
 d the Future of Italian Astrobiology”\, to be held at the Dep. Of Physi
 cs and Astronomy\, Polo scientifico\, Via Giovanni Sansone\, 1\, 50019 Ses
 to Fiorentino FI (March 12–13)\, invites the Italian scientific communit
 y to engage with this ambitious endeavor. Sponsored by the University of 
 Florence\, the Osservatorio Polifunzionale del Chianti\, and the INAF (I
 stituto Nazionale di Astrofisica)\, the meeting will provide a fertile gro
 und for discussion among experts in astrophysics\, planetary science\, int
 erferometry\, atmospheric modeling\, and data analysis — as well as thos
 e interested in the philosophical and cultural implications of the search 
 for life. Our shared goal is to consolidate Italy’s role within the LIFE
  consortium\, to stimulate new collaborations\, and to inspire a generatio
 n of researchers ready to confront the scientific and technological challe
 nges that await. The workshop will feature keynote presentations from memb
 ers of the international LIFE team\, alongside invited and contributed tal
 ks from Italian institutions at the forefront of space instrumentation and
  exoplanet science. Dedicated sessions for young researchers and PhD stude
 nts will encourage active participation\, networking\, and project develop
 ment. Beyond the excitement of discovery\, LIFE also represents a step f
 orward in the evolution of astronomy itself: a mission that will require n
 ew technologies in interferometric imaging\, precision optics\, cryogenics
 \, and data interpretation. It challenges us to push the boundaries of wha
 t can be observed\, measured\, and understood. Gathering under the Florent
 ine sky\, we will look toward a future where Italian science contributes d
 ecisively to revealing the diversity of planetary \n\nhttps://indico.ict.i
 naf.it/event/3484/
LOCATION:Aula Magna Dip. Fisica e Astronomia (Polo Scientifico\, Sesto Fio
 rentino (Fi))
URL:https://indico.ict.inaf.it/event/3484/
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