Es un placer y un honor para REDESPA contar con el Prof. Sun Kwok, como nuevo miembro de nuestro Comité Científico Internacional.
Una de los principales valores de la Red Española de Planetología y Astrobiología, es que cuenta con un selecto grupo de reconocidos científicos e ingenieros de reconocido prestigio internacional. Desde el primer momento, hemos intentado que en nuestra Red se reflejara, tanto nacional como internacionalmente, el carácter interdisciplinar necesario para el desarrollo de las actividades relacionadas con la Planetología y Astrobiología en su sentido más amplio.
El Prof. Sun Kwok es, además de un científico internacional de primer nivel, el presidente de la recientemente creada Comisión de Astrobiología de la Unión Astronómica Internacional (IAU). Por ello, nos congratula que haya aceptado nuestra invitación para unirse a nuestro Comité Científico Internacional.
- Chair Professor of Physics and Dean of Science, The University of Hong Kong (2006-present)
- Faculty Professor,University of Calgary (2005-2012)
- Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2012-)
- Distinguished Research Fellow and Director, Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics,
Academia Sinica, Taiwan (2003-2005) - Professor, University of Calgary (1983-2005)
- Canada Council Killam Fellow (2000-2002)
- JILA Visiting Fellow (1989-1990)
- Vice President, IAU Div VI Interstellar Matter (2009-2012)
- President, IAU Commission 34, Interstellar Matter (2012-2015)
- Vice President, IAU Commission 51, Bioastronomy (2012-2015)
- President,IAU Commission F3, Astrobiology (2015-)
- Chairman, IAU Working Group on Planetary Nebulae (Division VI) (1994-2001)
- Principal Investigator (Astronomy), Canadian participation in theOdin mission
Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe. The International Astronomical Union’s Commission 51 was established in 1982 as «Bioastronomy: Search for Extraterrestrial Life» and was renamed simply «Bioastronomy» in 2006. After the commission reform exercise in 2015, it is now the International Astronomical Union’s Commission F3 «Astrobiology».
Astrobiology encompasses the search for extant life, evidence of past life, or evidence of prebiotic chemistry on solar system bodies, including Mars, Europa, Titan and Enceladus; the search for planets around other stars and potential spectroscopic evidence and habitability and biological activity; the origin of the biogenic chemical elements and the study of biologically relevant molecules in the interstellar medium and in primitive solar system objects such as comets, undifferentiated asteroids and some meteorites; the search for intelligent signals of extraterrestrial origin; the study of the origin, early evolution, and environmental constraints for life on Earth; the coordination of efforts in all these areas at the international level; and the establishment of collaborative programs with other international scientific societies with related interests. (Source: http://www.scifac.hku.hk/kwok/iaucf3/)
