McGill University

Published purpose

The project consists in investigating and optimizing micro life detection instruments in the laboratory and field test these instruments at extreme high fidelity cryoenvironment analogue sites in the Canadian high Arctic, including cold perennial springs systems analogous to the Recurring Slope Lineaes (RSLs) on Mars, and to Europa and Enceladus. This project will provide training and mentoring to Canadian students who will benefit from interactions with a multidisciplinary team and the involvement of collaborators from NASA Ames and the Centro de Astrobiologia (CAB) in Spain. The overall science objective is to demonstrate proof-­of-concept of a prototype MICRO life detection platform, including a sample acquisition system.