Are we alone in the universe? Thanks to powerful new telescopes, the answer to this question may be closer than ever before.
Please Note: This program bears the SG&USE label and is therefore part of education. This means a maximum of 75 people are allowed into the room, no 1.5 meter of social distancing is required, and no Covid-19 access certificate is needed. You can also watch this program via livestream
One of the most exciting developments in astronomy is the discovery of thousands of planets surrounding stars other than our Sun. But how do these exo-planets form, and why are they so different from those in our own solar system? Which ingredients are necessary to create them?
Prof. Ewine van Dishoeck has helped develop the most powerful telescopes on Earth to address these age-old questions. She does world-renowned research on the thin, ice-cold clouds of gas found between stars. Water and a surprisingly rich variety of organic materials are found here, including simple sugars. Can these pre-biotic molecules end up in comets and ultimately new planets and thus form the basis for life elsewhere in the universe?
Prof. dr. Ewine van Dishoeck is a professor of molecular astrophysics at Leiden University. She is one of the world’s leading researchers on molecular astronomy and astrochemistry and has been awarded, among others, the 2018 Kavli Prize for Astrophysics (also called the Nobel Prize in astronomy), the Dutch Spinoza Prize and the James Craig Watson Medal. The research of her group is at the boundary of astronomy and chemistry and uses ground- and space-based observatories to study the molecular trail from interstellar clouds to planet-forming disks. She holds many national and international science policy functions, including scientific director of the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy (NOVA) and president of the International Astronomical Union.
Please note: only book a ticket if you want to attend this program on campus. To watch the livestream, please do not reserve a ticket.
You can visit this program on campus or watch it online via a livestream.
On campus: ticket reservation required
This program will take place on campus for a limited group of visitors. The number of visitors that we can accommodate for this program is limited due to the Covid-19 measures. Making a reservation via the website (black "order" button) is therefore mandatory if you want to attend this program on campus.
Via livestream: do not reserve a ticket
This program will also be streamed live to our YouTube channel and Facebook page. Follow us on Facebook or subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive a notification when we go live. Please do not book a ticket if you want to watch the livestream.
SG & USE registration
On campus:
Please register your participation on the spot when attending the program on campus, by scanning your student card before the start of the program at the venue.
- Online via livestream:
Please note: do not make a reservation if you want to watch the program online via the livestream. You can only register for SG&USE if you watch the entire program live ( i.e., you can’t watch it at a later time) and if you complete an online SG&USE registration form within five minutes after the end of the program. Before the program starts, we will explain where and when you can find the link to the registration form. You will need to have your student ID number on hand because you'll need it to fill out the form. Please make sure your registration is done properly, otherwise we will not be able to verify that you were present.
More information about SG & USE can be found here.