Welcome to the Arizona Astrobiology Center

Astrobiology is an exciting interdisciplinary field about the origins, evolution and distribution of life in the universe.

The Arizona Astrobiology Center is a hub for many scientific endeavors, providing bold and transformative dialogue.

NOW ACCEPTING 2025 MENSCH PRIZE NOMINATIONS!
Deadline: Friday, April 4, 2025 by 10 p.m.

The Mensch Prize in Astrobiology, hosted by the University of Arizona, Arizona Astrobiology Center, is a student scholarship designed to recognize and encourage undergraduate and graduate students who have explored through research and creative projects related to astrobiology. This prize aims to foster innovative, creative research and academic excellence among graduate and undergraduate students who demonstrate a strong interest in exploring the multifaceted aspects of astrobiology. It covers a wide range of topics, including star and planet formation, solar system exploration, exoplanets, the origin and evolution of life, habitability, consciousness, and the intersections of the philosophy and practical application of intelligence in humanities, law, policy, education, and space exploration.

The selection criteria are:

Must be a current University of Arizona undergraduate or graduate student in any major or academic path.
The academic merit and originality of the student's research or project
The project's relevance to the field of astrobiology,
The quality of the research and the potential impact on advancing our understanding and discussion of life in the universe.

This $1,000 prize will be awarded to one student who demonstrates creativity, interdisciplinary thinking, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of our knowledge in astrobiology.

For detailed instructions and the nominating students, please follow this link

For more information, contact Corey Knox: cknox@arizona.edu

EXTENDED! AABC is now accepting submissions through Monday, April 7, for the 2025 Arizona Astrobiology Center Seed Grants. These are open to faculty, staff, grad students, and post docs. We welcome undergraduate research projects, but we would like these to be a partnership with faculty/staff. This funding is up to $10K.

The AABC Seed Grant program is an opportunity to foster creative, ambitious, and interdisciplinary scholarship and engagement in the expansive field of astrobiology. This initiative includes biological, physical, and space science projects as well as projects in the humanities, social sciences, arts, science education, and other fields. This seed grant is a call to thinkers and explorers across all disciplines.

Eligibility Criteria
All faculty, research staff, graduate students, and post-doctoral scholars affiliated with the University of Arizona are eligible to apply. Undergraduate students who are interested should partner with a faculty member, scientist, or graduate student. Disciplinary Scope: Open to all research and scholarly disciplines. Note: Applications will not be considered from recipients of AABC Seed Awards in 2024.

Apply here ->

2024 Seed Grantees

AABC Meets...

Arizona Astrobiology Center members Michael Phillips (Space Imagery Center) and Sukrit Ranjan (Lunar and Planetary Lab) tell about their work and what the AABC can offer researchers and students in future endeavors. (More ->)