Charles Cockell

Charles Cockell is a Professor of Astrobiology at the University of Edinburgh, where he also serves as the Director of the UK Centre for Astrobiology. He earned his doctorate from the University of Oxford and has held prestigious positions, including a National Academy of Sciences Associate at NASA Ames Research Centre and visiting scholar roles at Stanford University and the University of Arizona. Cockell has a rich background in extreme environments, particularly focusing on the role of microbes in volcanic and impact crater settings. He is a Senior Editor for the journal Astrobiology and has authored popular science books such as Impossible Extinction, which examines microbial resilience on Earth, and Space on Earth, linking environmentalism with space exploration. Additionally, he founded the Earth and Space Foundation in 1994 to support research that connects environmentalism with space exploration.