The Society for Social and Conceptual Issues in Astrobiology (SSoCIA) will hold its fifth biennial meeting June 3-5, 2024 in Rovaniemi, Finland. SSoCIA is an international and highly interdisciplinary group of scholars and other experts dedicated to investigation of the many social, cultural, and conceptual issues surrounding humanity’s future in space. For our 2024 meeting, the society is welcoming submissions addressing any of the many “broader questions” in astrobiology and space exploration. Previous presentations have included:

  • Should there be private property in space?
  • Is human colonization of other worlds morally permissible?
  • Should we attempt to contact extraterrestrial intelligence (METI)?
  • What does “pollution” mean in the context of a lifeless world?
  • What is “life”?
  • What moral obligations might we have towards extraterrestrials?
  • How can we overcome problems inherent in interspecies communication?
  • What would be the religious significance of a “second genesis”?
  • How should off world colonies be governed?
  • Is the prime directive an appropriate ethical principle to use for first contact?
  • How do our attitudes towards space reflect unexamined cultural tropes?
  • How can we use astrobiology to further science education?

    If you wish to be considered, submit a 250-word abstract for a presentation or poster (please specify) by January 31, 2024 to the program chair, Kelly Smith (kcs[at]clemson.edu).