We are delighted to announce the upcoming COSPAR Capacity-Building Workshop entitled "Mineral and Material Sciences for Space Exploration",scheduled to take place from 21st September to 2nd October 2026 at the University of Nairobi,Nairobi, Kenya.
About COSPAR Capacity-Building Workshops
The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) organises training workshops around the world with the aim of enhancing the scientific capabilities of researchers, particularly in developing regions,and thereby helping to raise their scientific standards.
Workshop Highlights
Mineral and Material Sciences for Space Exploration is a two-week intensive scientific training program organized by the University of Nairobi in collaboration with international partners.
The workshop will bring together leading international scientists and early-career researchers to explore the role of minerals and materials in understanding planetary formation,space missions, and the origins of life.
Participants will engage in:
• Advanced lectures delivered by leading scientists
• Hands-on laboratory training
• Fieldwork for sample collection
• Data analysis using real mission datasets
The workshop will be hosted in Nairobi and will include field activities at geologically significant sites
comparable to those of the East African Rift.
DOWNLOAD ANNOUNCEMENT
• Workshop dates: 21st September – 2nd October 2026
• Location: University of Nairobi, Kenya
The workshop is intended for:
• PhD students
• Postdoctoral researchers
• Early-career scientists
Applicants should demonstrate:
• strong foundational knowledge in their field
• motivation to apply crystallographic methods to space science
• potential to transfer acquired skills to their home institutions.
This workshop is committed to gender balance and inclusive participation across its committees and program. We will take proactive steps to promote balanced representation among organizers, session chairs, and invited speakers, while also considering diversity in geography, career stage, and discipline, where appropriate.
The workshop is limited to 40 participants to ensure personalized mentoring.Accommodation and local expenses for selected participants will be fully covered.Travel support will also be provided,particularly for participants from other countries.
The workshop focuses on the study of extraterrestrial minerals and rocks from the Moon, Mars, meteorites, and interstellar dust particles.
Participants will study mineral growth patterns and crystallization processes relevant to early Earth environments, planetary evolution, and the origin and detection of primitive life.
Prof. Juan Manuel Garcia
Prof. Aki Takigawa
Prof. Yuki Kimura
Prof. Dickson Andala
• Prof. Pilar García Orduña, The Institute of Chemical Synthesis and Homogeneous Catalysis (ISQCH), CSIC
• Prof. Fernando Rull. University of Valladolid, Spain
• Dr. Christian Jenewein, Donostia International Physics Center. Spain
• Dr. Fermín Otálora, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, Spain
• Dr. Mark van Zuilen, Naturalis, The Netherlands
• Dr. Maxime Durelle, Donostia International Physics Center, Spain
• Dr. Jorge Vago, ESA-ESTEC, The Netherlands
• Dr. Marcos Veneranda, University of Valladolid, Spain
• Dr. Carlos Gabriel, COSPAR Panel on Capacity Building, Germany
• Prof. Solomon Derese, University of Nairobi, Kenya
• Dr. Martin Mbugua, University of Nairobi, Kenya
