The 6th International Symposium of the Earth Life Science Institute (ELSI) was held from January 9-11, 2018, at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama Campus. A video presentation of talks from the symposium is available below:

Speakers included: Haruyuki Atomi (Kyoto University), Eric Boyd (Montana State University), Rogier Braakman (MIT), George Cody (Carnegie Institution for Science), Donato Giovannelli (ELSI and Rutgers University), Paul Falkowski (Rutgers University), Christoph Flamm (University of Vienna), Masafumi Kameya (ELSI/University of Tokyo), Marc Koper (University of Leiden), Yamei Li (ELSI), Shawn McGlynn (ELSI), Joseph Moran (University of Strasbourg & CNRS), Shaunna Morrison (Carnegie Institution of Washington), Ryuhei Nakamura (ELSI/RIKEN), Vikas Nanda (Rutgers University), Takuro Nunoura (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology), Marta Ruiz Bermejo (National Institute of Aerospatial Technology), Hong-Yan Shih (University of Illinois) Everett Shock (Arizona State University), Everett Shock (Arizona State University), George Whitesides (Harvard University)

This year’s symposium theme was, “Building Bridges from Earth to Life: From Chemical Mechanism to Ancient Biology.” Researchers from around the globe gathered to share knowledge on the transition from Earth’s earliest geochemistry to the emergence of life. Topics covered a wide range of studies, ranging from elementary mechanisms in organic geochemistry to ecological systems evolutionary biology. The goal of the symposium was to, “hold a collaborative conversation, among speakers and participants, to sketch the form of this emerging bridge, and to point out both the most compelling opportunities and the most urgent needs.”

Following the main symposium, ELSI hosted less formal discussions referred to as ‘aftershops,’ the themes of which were drawn from suggestions by symposium attendees.

For more information, visit https://elsi6sympo.com.

Related:
Research Center a Hub for Origins of Life Studies
5th ELSI International Symposium: Expanding Views on the Emergence of the Biosphere
NASA Astrobiology (YouTube)