REGISTRATION
From November 2026
ABOUT THE COURSE
Our universe is full of molecules, from the simplest – molecular hydrogen – all the way up to the complex molecular structures essential to the chemistry of life on Earth. A large and diverse array of chemical species has been detected not only on planets but in interstellar clouds, in regions of star formation, in protoplanetary disks, and in comets and meteorites within the solar system. But how and when was all this material formed, and how does it evolve over time? How much molecular content is inherited from one stage of star and
planet formation to the next? What role does the chemistry of the universe through cosmic
time play in the origins of life? A major unanswered question remains whether the molecules
essential to life were produced on the early Earth (endogenous origin), or whether they were
produced in the parent interstellar medium or planet-forming disk and delivered to Earth via
asteroids, comets and their meteoritic remains (exogenous origin).
This lecture course will be devoted to astrochemistry and the exploration of topics related
to the chemical origins of life. In 18 lectures from the world-leading experts, we will discuss
the history of the early molecular universe starting from the Big Bang; environmental
conditions and key physico-chemical processes in space; astronomical observations
(from ground to space) of objects of astrochemical interest; chemical models describing
astrophysical environments and their reaction networks; key laboratory techniques and
approaches for studying astrochemical processes; chemistry in specific environments,
such as the interstellar medium, protoplanetary disks, and atmospheres of (exo)planets;
exogenous synthesis and delivery of biomolecule precursors; and, finally, evolution of these
precursors on the early Earth.
GALS is aimed at providing a broad overview of scientific issues, problems,
achievements, and open questions in astrochemistry; and at helping senior undergraduate
and postgraduate students as well as early career scientists to expand their interests and
develop a firm understanding of this area, sufficient to choose an appropriate direction for
their future career. The course is open to students and scientists from all over the world, but the organizers reserve the right to be selective in terms of access and to limit the total number of participants.
In the coming years, GALS will consist of two parts: 14 core lectures
and 4 special lectures. There will be a new topic for special lectures
every year.
For the coming semester, we have chosen "Protoplanetary disks".
LECTURERS
Edwin Bergin, University of Michigan, USA
Eleonora Bianchi, INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Italy
Bertram Bitsch, University College Cork, Irland
Dieter Braun, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany
Ilsedore Cleeves, University of Virginia, USA
Robin Garrod, University of Virginia, USA
Wolf Geppert, Stockholm University, Sweden
Anders Johansen, University of Copenhagen, Danmark
Martin McCoustra, Heriot-Watt University, Scotland
Paul Molliere, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Germany
Jennifer Noble, Aix-Marseille University, France
Giulia Perotti, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Alexey Potapov, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
Sean Raymond, University of Bordeaux, France
Martin Rubin, University of Bern, Switzerland
Barbara Ryden, Ohio State University, USA
Dima Semenov, University of Heidelberg, Germany
Eleonora Bianchi, INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Italy
Bertram Bitsch, University College Cork, Irland
Dieter Braun, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany
Ilsedore Cleeves, University of Virginia, USA
Robin Garrod, University of Virginia, USA
Wolf Geppert, Stockholm University, Sweden
Anders Johansen, University of Copenhagen, Danmark
Martin McCoustra, Heriot-Watt University, Scotland
Paul Molliere, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Germany
Jennifer Noble, Aix-Marseille University, France
Giulia Perotti, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Alexey Potapov, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
Sean Raymond, University of Bordeaux, France
Martin Rubin, University of Bern, Switzerland
Barbara Ryden, Ohio State University, USA
Dima Semenov, University of Heidelberg, Germany
COURSE PROGRAM
1. Basics of astrochemistry
Dima Semenov, University of Heidelberg, Germany
22.01.2027, 15:00 CET
2. Big Bang and formation of the elements
Barbara Ryden, The Ohio State University, USA
26.01.2027, 15:00 CET
3. Cosmic life cycle of matter and environmental conditions in space
coming soon...
4. Origin of planetary systems
Sean Raymond, University of Bordeaux, France
02.02.2027, 15:00 CET
5. The chemistry of planet formation
Bertram Bitsch, University College Cork, Irland
04.02.2027, 15:00 CET
6. Astrochemical observations
Edwin Bergin, University of Michigan, USA
09.02.2027, 15:00 CET
7. Observations of protoplanetary disks
Ilsedore Cleeves, University of Virginia, USA
12.02.2027, 15:00 CET
8. Chemistry in the interstellar medium
Eleonora Bianchi, INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Italy
16.02.2027, 16:00 CET
9. Laboratory studies related to protoplanetary disks
Jennifer Noble, Aix-Marseille University, France
19.02.2027, 15:00 CET
10. ISM Astrochemical modelling
Robin Garrod, University of Virginia, USA
22.02.2027 at 15:00 CET
11. Laboratory astrochemistry. Gas-phase processes
Wolf Geppert, Stockholm University, Sweden
26.02.2027 at 15:00 CET
12. Laboratory astrochemistry. Solid-state processes
Martin McCoustra, Heriot-Watt University, Scotland
01.03.2027 at 15:00 CET
13. Chemistry in protoplanetary disks
Giulia Perotti, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
04.03.2027 at 15:00 CET
14. The journey of volatiles from protoplanetary discs to planetary atmospheres
Anders Johansen, University of Copenhagen, Danmark
09.03.2027 at 15:00 CET
15. Chemistry in (exo)planet atmospheres
Paul Molliere, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Germany
11.03.2027, 15:00 CET
16. Chemistry in the early Solar System
Martin Rubin, University of Bern, Switzerland
16.03.2027, 15:00 CET
17. Exogenous synthesis of biomolecule precursors
Alexey Potapov, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
19.03.2027, 15:00 CET
18. The Origins of Biochemistry and Life
Dieter Braun, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany
23.03.2027, 14:00 CET
Dima Semenov, University of Heidelberg, Germany
22.01.2027, 15:00 CET
2. Big Bang and formation of the elements
Barbara Ryden, The Ohio State University, USA
26.01.2027, 15:00 CET
3. Cosmic life cycle of matter and environmental conditions in space
coming soon...
4. Origin of planetary systems
Sean Raymond, University of Bordeaux, France
02.02.2027, 15:00 CET
5. The chemistry of planet formation
Bertram Bitsch, University College Cork, Irland
04.02.2027, 15:00 CET
6. Astrochemical observations
Edwin Bergin, University of Michigan, USA
09.02.2027, 15:00 CET
7. Observations of protoplanetary disks
Ilsedore Cleeves, University of Virginia, USA
12.02.2027, 15:00 CET
8. Chemistry in the interstellar medium
Eleonora Bianchi, INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Italy
16.02.2027, 16:00 CET
9. Laboratory studies related to protoplanetary disks
Jennifer Noble, Aix-Marseille University, France
19.02.2027, 15:00 CET
10. ISM Astrochemical modelling
Robin Garrod, University of Virginia, USA
22.02.2027 at 15:00 CET
11. Laboratory astrochemistry. Gas-phase processes
Wolf Geppert, Stockholm University, Sweden
26.02.2027 at 15:00 CET
12. Laboratory astrochemistry. Solid-state processes
Martin McCoustra, Heriot-Watt University, Scotland
01.03.2027 at 15:00 CET
13. Chemistry in protoplanetary disks
Giulia Perotti, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
04.03.2027 at 15:00 CET
14. The journey of volatiles from protoplanetary discs to planetary atmospheres
Anders Johansen, University of Copenhagen, Danmark
09.03.2027 at 15:00 CET
15. Chemistry in (exo)planet atmospheres
Paul Molliere, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Germany
11.03.2027, 15:00 CET
16. Chemistry in the early Solar System
Martin Rubin, University of Bern, Switzerland
16.03.2027, 15:00 CET
17. Exogenous synthesis of biomolecule precursors
Alexey Potapov, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
19.03.2027, 15:00 CET
18. The Origins of Biochemistry and Life
Dieter Braun, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany
23.03.2027, 14:00 CET