Introduction to the Special Issue

Abstract

The 11th EuropeanWorkshop on Astrobiology “EANA’11”, the annual meeting of European Astrobiology Network Association EANA ( ), was held in Cologne, Germany, from July 11–14, 2011, hosted by the German Aerospace Center DLR ( ) and the Helmholtz Alliance “Planetary Evolution and Life” (http:// www.dlr.de/pf/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-4843/>). The European Astrobiology Network Association (EANA) was created in 2001 with the purpose to bring together European researchers interested in astrobiology programs and to foster their cooperation; to attract young scientists to this interdisciplinary field of research; and to popularize astrobiology to the public and to students. EANA now combines representatives of 19 European nations active in astrobiology: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, and organizes annual workshops in one of the member countries. Astrobiology groups in Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico and USA are associated members. EANA is sponsored by the European Space Agency.