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Widening perspectives: the intellectual and social benefits of astrobiology (regardless of whether extraterrestrial life is discovered or not)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2017

I.A. Crawford
I.A. Crawford*
Affiliation:
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, UK
*
e-mail: i.crawford@bbk.ac.uk
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Abstract

Astrobiology is usually defined as the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the Universe. As such it is inherently interdisciplinary and cannot help but engender a worldview infused by cosmic and evolutionary perspectives. Both these attributes of the study of astrobiology are, and will increasingly prove to be, beneficial to society regardless of whether extraterrestrial life is discovered or not.

Keywords

astrobiologybig historycosmic perspective
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 17 , Issue 1 , January 2018 , pp. 57 - 60
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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