VI Astrobiology School
at the Observatório Nacional
VI AstrobiON
September 14th-17th, 2026
Registration is open until September 4th!
Tap to registrateAstrobiology seeks to understand, in a multidisciplinary way, the origin and evolution of life on our planet and, more broadly, the possibility of life in the Universe. This area of research has been strengthened in recent decades with the discovery of more than 6,000 planets outside the solar system, the so-called exoplanets. Several of them are rocky and are located in the habitable zones of their host stars, potentially harboring life as we know it.
The sixth edition of our traditional Astrobiology School at Observatório Nacional will have two courses and three lectures given by renowned experts in the field.
VI AstrobiON is mainly aimed at graduate students, postdocs and researchers working in the field or in related areas.
Invited Speakers
Courses
Dr. Laura Schaefer
Stanford University, United States
"Atmosphere-interior interactions on rocky exoplanets"
Dr. Jose Aponte
NASA, United States
"Extraterrestrial Organics: From Molecular Detection to Prebiotic Meaning"
Lectures
Dr. Daniel Ribeiro Franco
Observatório Nacional, Brazil
"Geophysics and Astronomy in Dialogue: Cyclostratigraphy as a Bridge between Orbital Cycles, Climate, and Life on Earth"
Dr. Ronaldo Fernandes
Museu Nacional, Brazil
"Life didn’t have to invent sex… but it did -- and thank evolution for that"
Dra. Amanda Bendia
Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
"Life at the Extremes: What Antarctic Microbes Reveal About the Potential for Life in Ocean Worlds?"
Dr. Fred Adams
University of Michigan, United States
"Life, the Universe, and Everything: How the Laws of Physics Allow for the Development of Structure (and Life) in the Cosmos"
Dr. Mario de Pinna
Museu de Zoologia - USP, Brazil
"Evolution of biological systems: adaptation, history and apparent trends"
Contact: astrobion2026@on.br
Event Program
| Time | Mon – 14/09 | Tue – 15/09 | Wed – 16/09 | Thu – 17/09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00-10:15 | Laura Schaefer | Jose Aponte | ||
| 10:15-10:45 | Registration/Opening | coffee break | coffee break | |
| 10:45-12:00 | Laura Schaefer | Jose Aponte | Mario de Pinna | Amanda Bendia |
| 12:00–14:00 | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch |
| 14:00-15:15 | Jose Aponte | Laura Schaefer | Jose Aponte | Laura Schaefer |
| 15:15-15:45 | coffee break | coffee break | coffee break | coffee break |
| 15:45-17:00 | Ronaldo Fernandes | Daniel Franco | Fred Adams | Discussion Section |
| 17:00-18:00 | Welcome Reception | End of the VI AstrobiON |
school Courses
Dr. Laura Schaefer
Stanford University, United States
"Atmosphere-interior interactions on rocky exoplanets"
- 14/09 - Internal structure of rocky planets
- 15/09 - Core formation and magma oceans
- 16/09 - Long-term tectonics and habitability
- 17/09 - Tidal effects, atmospheric escape, and other processes
Dr. Jose Aponte
NASA, United States
"Extraterrestrial Organics: From Molecular Detection to Prebiotic Meaning"
- 14/09 - Molecular Complexity in Space: What Astrochemistry Produces
- 15/09 - Analytical Techniques for Extraterrestrial Organics
- 16/09 - From Organic Astrochemistry to Prebiotic Systems
- 17/09 - Sample Return Missions: OSIRIS-REx
podium Lectures
Dr. Daniel Ribeiro Franco
Observatório Nacional, Brazil
"Geophysics and Astronomy in Dialogue: Cyclostratigraphy as a Bridge between Orbital Cycles, Climate, and Life on Earth"
Dr. Ronaldo Fernandes
Museu Nacional, Brazil
"Life didn’t have to invent sex… but it did -- and thank evolution for that"
Dra. Amanda Bendia
Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
"Life at the Extremes: What Antarctic Microbes Reveal About the Potential for Life in Ocean Worlds?"
Dr. Fred Adams
University of Michigan, United States
"Life, the Universe, and Everything: How the Laws of Physics Allow for the Development of Structure (and Life) in the Cosmos"
Dr. Mario de Pinna
Museu de Zoologia - USP, Brazil
"Evolution of biological systems: adaptation, history and apparent trends"
Organizing Committee
Gustavo Madeira
Observatório Nacional (ON)
Marcelo Borges Fernandes
Observatório Nacional (ON)
Marilia Carlos
Observatório Nacional (ON)
Renato Dupke
Observatório Nacional (ON)
Jailson Souza de Alcaniz
Observatório Nacional (ON)
mail Contact
Venue
The Observatório Nacional is located in the neighborhood of São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, close to the Centro de Tradições Nordestinas, also known as Feira de São Cristóvão. The Observatório Nacional campus is approximately 30 minutes from the Galeão and Santos Dumont airports and 60 minutes from the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches.
location_on Rua General José Cristino, 77 - São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20921-400, Brazil
directions_bus Getting here by bus
directions_bus From Novo Rio Bus Station
-
Line 472 – Triagem / Leme
Get off on São Januário street.
-
Line 473 – São Januário / Lido
Get off on São Januário street.
-
Line 474 – Jacaré / Copacabana
Get off at Campo de São Cristóvão.
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Line 634 – Bananal / Saens Pena
Get off at Campo de São Cristóvão.
directions_bus From Copacabana
-
Line 473 – São Januário / Lido
Via Rebouças tunnel. Take at Tonelero street; get off on São Januário street.
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Line 474 – Jacaré / Copacabana
Via Santa Bárbara tunnel. Take at Nossa Sra. de Copacabana avenue; get off at Campo de São Cristóvão.
directions_bus From Botafogo
-
Line 472 – Triagem / Leme
Via praia. Take at Botafogo beach; get off on São Januário street.
-
Line 474 – Jacaré / Copacabana
Via Santa Bárbara tunnel. Take at Aterro do Botafogo; get off at Campo de São Cristóvão.
directions_bus From Flamengo
-
Line 472 – Triagem / Leme
Via praia. Take at Flamengo beach; get off on São Januário street.
-
Line 474 – Jacaré / Copacabana
Via Santa Bárbara tunnel. Take at Pinheiro Machado street; get off at Campo de São Cristóvão.
Registration
Deadline: September 4th, 2026
Please fill out the form below to secure your spot. Note that a 75% attendance rate is required to receive the official event certificate.
Attendance lists will be available to participants at the beginning of each lecture.
Accommodation & Food
Accommodation
There are no accommodation options close to the National Observatory. The list below contains information about some hostels and hotels in Rio de Janeiro that the Organizing Committee recommends. The majority are located in the neighborhoods of Copacabana, Ipanema and Flamengo. From there you can easily reach the National Observatory by bus.
Reservations at these hostels are at the expense of the participant and we suggest that they be made at least 10 days in advance.
Bamboo Rio Hostel
location_onRua Lacerda Coutinho, 45, Copacabana
phone+55 (21) 98892-1637
phone+55 (21) 99813-5487
Copacabana Mar Hotel
location_onRua Min. Viveiros de Castro, 155, Copacabana
phone+55 (21) 3501-7900
Hotel Regina
location_onRua Ferreira Viana, 29, Flamengo
phone+55 (21) 3289-9999
phone+55 (21) 99999-2045
Food
There are several restaurants and snack bars around the National Observatory that serve lunch and, in some cases, dinner. The map shows their location.
Food by the Kilo
Caroba Grill
Rua General José Cristino, 3
Clima de Boteco
Campo de São Cristóvão, 162
Casa do Rei
Rua São Januário, 121
Clima de Boteco
Rua do Bonfim, 352
Cristovão
Rua General José Cristino, 36
PicNic
Campo de São Cristóvão, 254
À la Carte Food
Adegão Português
Campo de São Cristóvão, 212
Fabene Massas Frescas
Campo de São Cristóvão, 404
Nery's Galeteria Restaurante
Avenida do Exército, 17, lojas C e D
Lanchonete Bar da Aliva
Rua Fonseca Teles, 196, loja D