Skip to main content
European Commission logo
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
CORDIS Web 30th anniversary CORDIS Web 30th anniversary
Content archived on 2024-06-18

Coordination Action for Research Activities on Life in Extreme Environments

Objective

Life in Extreme Environments (LEXEN) is an emerging area of research in which Europe has considerable expertise but a relatively fragmented research infrastructure. The science of such environments has enormous relevance for our knowledge of the diversity and environmental limits of microbial, plant and animal life and the novel strategies employed for survival and growth. Such studies are essential in understanding how life established on the early Earth and in assessing the possibilities for life on other planetary bodies. These environments are also a rich source of novel exploitable compounds. The Work Programme identifies a need for better coordination of LEXEN research and CAREX aims to address this need by developing a clearly identifiable, dynamic and durable community. Establishing this community will encourage greater inter-disciplinarity and increasing knowledge of extreme environments. It will provide a target for young career scientists and allow a more focussed dialogue with other science areas, with funding agencies, with industrial groups and with international organisations outside Europe. CAREX deliverables will include a strategic roadmap for European LEXEN research (including enabling technologies), diverse opportunities for knowledge transfer, standardisation of methodologies, encouragement and support for early career scientists and a network of links to relevant organisations. These deliverables together with improved community networking, supported by newsletters, promotional leaflets, a series science publications and an interactive web portal, will help consolidate the community and its identity. Outcomes will be facilitated through science/technology workshops, diverse forums, field/laboratory protocol intercomparisons, a summer school and individual grants to facilitate knowledge transfer. CAREX has evolved with the key players from the highly successful ESF “Investigating Life in Extreme Environments” initiative .

Call for proposal

FP7-ENV-2007-1
See other projects for this call

Coordinator

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL
EU contribution
€ 53 975,73
Address
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
SN2 1EU SWINDON WILTSHIRE
United Kingdom

See on map

Activity type
Public bodies (excluding Research Organisations and Secondary or Higher Education Establishments)
Administrative Contact
Cynan Ellis-Evans (Dr.)
Links
Total cost
No data

Participants (8)