The Chemistry of Space
Guest Speaker
Thursday, 4th October 2018 (19:45 - 22:00)
Venue: swmcmeet
Chemistry of space: comets, water and life precursors
In this talk I will discuss how our understanding of meteorites and their chemical composition allows us to know more about the nature of our Universe. I will also show how water is really much more common in space than first thought and how life precursors can be found in the most remote places in space.
Speaker: Dr. David Benoit
David Benoit is a Senior Lecturer in Molecular Physics and Astrochemistry at the University of Hull, UK. He holds a (bio-)chemistry degree (U. Lausanne), a PhD in theoretical chemistry (UCL) and a German habilitation in theoretical chemistry (U. Ulm). He has authored over 65 peer-reviewed publications and has 20 years’ experience in using high-performance computing to solve problems in quantum chemistry, molecular physics and astrochemistry. His research focuses on the development of highly efficient approaches to describe quantum properties of molecules in different environments (grain surface, ice inclusions or pH-changing oceans, for example). He also has a particular interest in quantum computing, astrochemistry & astrobiology, vibrational theory, biological signalling and molecule–surface interactions.
Learn more about Dr. David Benoit