22nd March 2022: (3:10 pm to 4:10 pm IST)
Topic: Microbial life on an Alien World: the habitat of life in Early Earth (30 minutes)

Martin Van Kranendonk is a Professor of Geology and Astrobiology at the University of New South Wales Sydney, and is the Director of the Australian Centre for Astrobiology. Born and trained in Canada, Martin moved to Australia in 1992 to follow his passion for ancient geology, and joined UNSW in 2012. His team investigates the earliest signs of life on Earth, and the environments it inhabited more than 3 billion years ago. This research is used by NASA and the European Space Agency in the search for life on Mars, and for understanding the origin of life on Earth. Martin has appeared on numerous television documentaries and films around the world and is passionate about engaging people of all ages with the big questions of science.