This workshop aims to provide an introduction to the fascinating world of tardigrades and their relevance in astrobiology. Through a combination of lectures and hands-on activities, participants will explore the biology of these microorganisms, known for their ability to survive extreme conditions, from freezing temperatures to exposure to the vacuum of space. Their role in astrobiological research will be discussed, highlighting experiments conducted in space and their potential to aid in the search for extraterrestrial life. Water bears, also known as tardigrades, are very small, segmented animals. The largest species is just over one millimetre in length. Water bears live in temporary ponds and droplets of water in soil and on moist plants. They are known to survive under conditions that would kill most organisms – they can withstand temperatures ranging from -272 deg C to +150 deg C, they can be without water for a period of 10 years, and they are extremely resistant to radiation.

In addition to theoretical lectures, the workshop will include a field trip around the Molėtai Astronomical Observatory, where attendees will collect samples from potential tardigrade habitats. Later, in the laboratory, they will learn how to locate and isolate these organisms for microscopic observation, identifying their characteristics and structures while also learning how to cultivate tardigrades at home.

This workshop is designed for university students, researchers, and enthusiasts of microbiology and astrobiology, offering a unique opportunity to understand how extremophiles can provide insights into life on other planets. With a practical and accessible approach, participants will learn about tardigrades and experience their search and analysis firsthand in a real scientific environment.

Venue

2 days at the Molėtai Astronomical Observatory, the other 1 day in Vilnius, Vilnius University Life Sciences Center, Lithuania.

Online participation

Theoretical part of the course will be streamed. If you wish to participate online, please state that in the application form.

Participants

20 students from Europe will be selected to attend in person. Additionally, an unlimited number of online participants will be able to join. 

Financial support

Trip Vilnius - Observatory, lodging and food in Molėtai observatory will be provided by Europlanet and Vilnius university for everyone.

The financial support for trip to and from Lithuania can be allocated by our partners:

• ESA Academy Short Course Scholarship programme (up to €350 for citizens of an ESA Member State, Associate Member, or Canada) more details HERE
• Embassy of Spain in Lithuania (up to €350 for participants from Spainish educational institutions)
• Polish Institute in Lithuania (up to €200 for participants from Polish educational institutions)

Key dates:

• Launch of the call for abstracts: 5 June 2025
• Registration opening: 5 June 2025
• The deadline for applications for ESA Academy scholarship 15 August 2025
• Deadline to submit abstracts: 31 August 2025
  
• Overall registration deadline: 31 August 2025 (Including Spanish and Polish grants)
• Abstract selection announcement: 4 September 2025

* More information concerning the reimbursement will be provided for the selected participants personally.

If you have more questions:

Please contact LOC: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Venue

The course is held at the Molėtai Observatory the town with the same name (around 70 km from Vilnius). Last day activities will be held in Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University.
More about Observatory: Please note that the venue is a bit in the middle of nature (as observatories usually are). Thus it is wise to bring all the things you needs with you, since shopping possibilities will be very limited.

   

Accommodation

All participants will be housed in double and triple rooms at the Molėtai Observatory. There will be one bathroom for 2 or 3 rooms. Linen and towels will be provided. Rooms are not too large, so please do not bring your whole household with you.

Arrivals

Most particopants will be collected by Bus Sep 18 01:00 PM – Bus from parking at central building of Vilnius University (Address: Universiteto g. 3, Vilnius, https://maps.app.goo.gl/iGLZmGdThcgMQcG66 )
Other options if you arrive Sep 17 or some other time.
Public transport from Vilnius Bus station (https://maps.app.goo.gl/aWiTxcCdZN1q29jf7 )
Take a bus from Vilnius Bus station to:
Molėtai town bus station. Last bus 16:00. You will be picked up by car there.
Utena town bus station. Last bus 17:15. You will be picked up by car there.

If you cannot fit to these options, please, contact organizers, we can find individual solution.

Your presentations and posters

You're welcome to choose either a poster or a talk format for your presentation. We’re excited to learn more about your research or interests—your topic doesn’t need to be directly related to astrobiology. The abstract is simply a way for us to get to know you better and understand your background.
Standard poster sizes: A0 (841 x 1189 mm.) portrait or A1 (594 x 841 mm.) landscape.

Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC):

Sara Calhim (Finland)
Alisa Gricajeva (Lithuania)
Łukasz Kaczmarek (Poland)
Renata Minkevičiūtė (Lithuania)
Nadja Møbjerg (Denmark)
Marcos Rubal (Portugal) (Chair)
Ingrida Šatkauskienė (Lithuania)
Ana Ulla (Spain)

Local Organizing Committee (LOC):

Arnas Drazdauskas
Alisa Gricajeva
Renata Minkevičiūtė
Šarūnas Mikolaitis
Ingrida Šatkauskienė
Linas Šmigelskas
Edita Stonkutė (Contact person: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )
Carlos Viscasillas Vázquez
Markus Ambrosch

Instructors:

Cintia Cabada Malvar (Spain)
Alisa Gricajeva (Lithuania)
Renata Minkevičiūtė (Lithuania)

Europlanet Tardigrade Workshop – Space and Astrobiology

September 18–20, 2025

Thursday, September 18 – Molėtai AO

• 01:00 PM – Bus from parking at central building of Vilnius University (Address: Universiteto g. 3, Vilnius) https://maps.app.goo.gl/iGLZmGdThcgMQcG66

• 3:00–5:00 PM – Participant Registration/Lodging

• 6:00 PM – Opening Remarks and Welcome address by Prof. Gražina Tautvaišienė, Vice-President of the International Astronomical Union (Onsite + Online)

• 6:30–7:15 PM – Introductory Lecture I General Introduction to tardigrades, prof. Marcos Ruball (Onsite + Online)

• 7:30–8:30 PM – Short student presentations (Onsite)

• 8:30–9:30 PM – Dinner

• 10:00 PM–12:00 AM – Guided Observatory Tour (Onsite)

Friday, September 19 – Molėtai AO

• 8:00–9:45 AM – Breakfast

• 10:00–10:45 AM – Theoretical Lecture II: Tardigrades and cryptobiosis, prof. Nadja Møbjerg (Onsite + Online)

• 11:00 AM–1:00 PM – Fieldwork Session, Cintia Cabada Malvar (Onsite)

• 1:30–3:00 PM – Lunch Break & Group photo

• 3:00–5:00 PM – Lab Session 

• 5:30–6:30 PM – Theoretical Lecture III: Astrobiology, prof. Łukasz Kaczmarek (Onsite + Online)

• 7:00–9:00 PM – Dinner

• 10:00 PM–12:00 AM – Star gazing, optional (Onsite)

Saturday, September 20 – Life Sciences Center, Vilnius

• 7:00–8:45 AM – Breakfast

• 9:15–11:00 AM – Transportation of participants to Vilnius in a minibus (Onsite)

• 11:15–1:30 PM –  Laboratory Session I, Alisa, Cintia, Ingrida (Onsite)

• 1:30–3:00 PM – Lunch Break

• 3:00–4:00 PM – Laboratory Session II, Alisa, Cintia, Ingrida (Onsite)

• 4:00–5:00 PM – Student Project Work (Onsite)

• 5:00–5:30 PM – Discussion (Onsite + Online)

• 5:30 PM – Closing Ceremony and Diploma Presentation: Address by the Spanish Ambassador to Lithuania, José Fernando Fernández-Aguayo Muñoz (Onsite + Online)

(Optional activities to be confirmed**):

• Visit to the EthnoCosmology Museum in the morning (Onsite)

• Public Lecture (Onsite)

• Activity with pupils from a school in Molėtai AO (Onsite)

Instructors

The ESA Education Office is pleased to sponsor up to 5 tertiary education students to attend the Europlanet Astrobiology Workshop 2025 in the frame of the ESA Academy Short Course Scholarship  programme. The partial scholarship will cover travel costs to and from Lithuania up to EUR 350 which will be reimbursed via a single bank transfer after the course and will be paid upon submission of receipts.
To be eligible for an ESA Academy Short Course Scholarship, students must fulfil the following criteria at the time of application:

• be minimum 18 years old at the time of the short course;
• be a citizen of an ESA Member State, Associate Member, or Canada;
• be enrolled as a student (Bsc, Msc, or Ph.D.) in a tertiary education academic programme (not graduating before the short course);
• not be able to attend the course through their academic programme;
• not benefit from an overlapping financial support to attend this short course, unless duly justified;
• attend the entire short course;
• agree with the conditions of the ESA Academy’s Privacy Policy.

Priority will be given to students who have less than 2 years of professional experience and have never taken part in an activity sponsored by the ESA Education Office.
Click HERE to fill-in the application form.
The deadline for applications is 2025 August 15 at 23:59 CEST.
The decision by the Selection Committee will be communicated by 2025 August 22.

ESA is committed to achieving diversity and creating an inclusive environment. To this end, applications from all eligible candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability, social origin, or other characteristics are welcome.