Professor Nigel J Mason, OBE 'Astrobiology – Understanding the origins of life’

Nigel J. Mason, OBE, is Professor of Molecular Physics at The Open University. He began his scientific career at University College London and after becoming a Royal Society University Research Fellow, founded the Molecular Physics group in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UCL. In 2002 he was appointed Professor of Molecular Physics at The Open University where he has most recently served as Associate Dean for Research, Enterprise and Scholarship for the Faculty of Science.In 2010 he funded the Astrochemistry group at the Open University. His research covers a wide range of topics including astrochemistry, plasma physics and radiation chemistry.  Current astrochemical research includes experimental studies of molecular formation on dust grains in the ISM  and on planetary surfaces as well as studies of molecular spectroscopy.He is an expert in electron-induced processes both in the ISM and planetary atmospheres. Nigel serves on several national and international committees and review boards, and since 2013 is chair of Europlanet,  Europe’s largest planetary science forum. He is also strongly committed to widening participation in science. In 2007 he was awarded the OBE for his services to science.  This talk is sure to be very thought provoking and interesting, and you guessed it, one not to be missed!