Starmus La Palma
Researcher, science communicator, and writer. He holds a PhD in Chemistry and is a Research Scientist at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). He leads the Molecular Evolution group at the Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA, associated with the NASA Astrobiology Program) in Madrid. His research focuses on the origin and early evolution of life, as well as the development of biosensors to characterize terrestrial life and search for it beyond our planet. He has published over 100 articles in international journals and is the co-inventor of 10 patents in biotechnology and biomedicine. He serves on the Executive Boards of the European Astrobiology Institute (EAI) and the Spanish Society of Virology (SEV). His research career has been recognized with the AlumniUAM 2024 Award in Science, Technology, and Health Sciences.
He has extensive experience in scientific dissemination as a lecturer, event coordinator, and press collaborator. He has published several science outreach books, including “Orígenes. El universo, la vida, los humanos” (Ed. Crítica, Barcelona, 2015; Prisma Award 2016), “¿Estamos solos? En busca de otras vidas en el Cosmos” (Ed. Crítica, 2020), and “A bordo de tu curiosidad. Un viaje por las preguntas y retos de la ciencia actual” (Ed. Crítica, 2024), which have collectively reached 14 editions to date. Among other distinctions, he has received the prestigious COSCE Award for the Dissemination of Science 2024, granted by the Spanish Confederation of Scientific Societies.
He is also the author of poetry books such as “De donde estás ausente” (Ed. Hiperión, Madrid, 1993; Hiperión Prize for Poetry 1993) and “Memoria de la luz” (DVD Ediciones, Barcelona, 2002). His poems have been published in several poetry anthologies and magazines since 1995. A fervent advocate of the Third Culture, he regularly organizes activities and events that integrate science, poetry, music, and fine arts.
