Centre for Planetary Habitability

At the end of July, the PHAB research centre at the University of Oslo hosted the PLATO consortium during PLATO Week #18. This is a scientific and coordinating meeting for members of the consortium behind ESA’s PLATO mission. They discussed key scientific and technological aspects of the launch of the new space telescope from the European Space Agency (ESA) – PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars). The launch is scheduled for March 2027.

PLATO Week #18 in Oslo brought together space researchers from all over Europe - Department of Geosciences In 2027, ESA will launch the space telescope PLATO, with Norway contributing both technology and research efforts. At the end of July, the PHAB research centre at the University of Oslo hosted the PLATO consortium during PLATO Week #18.

No plans for next week? Come join us at the PLATO Week #18 public evening event on Thursday July 30, at Domus Bibliotheca in Oslo city center. We will be discussing the new PLATO telescope, which will be looking for exoplanets in other solar systems.

Exoplanets – Finding other Worlds with the PLATO mission - Department of Geosciences Join us at Domus Bibliotheca for the public evening event of PLATO Week #18

PLATO Week #18 – Evening event for all space enthusiasts 🚀

On Thursday 30 July, the Centre for Planetary Habitability (PHAB), a Centre of Excellence at the University of Oslo, invites you to an open evening event at Domus Bibliotheca in Oslo (Karl Johans gate 47).

Are you interested in space science and exoplanet research? Then you are welcome to join us for an evening with exciting talks and presentations about space, exoplanets, and the upcoming space telescope PLATO, given by:
- Prof. Heike Rauer (PI of the PLATO mission)
- Dr. Maximilian Günther (ESA Project Scientist for the PLATO mission)
- Prof. Stephanie C. Werner (Head of the PHAB centre at UiO)

The event is open to anyone curious about space and the planets that exist beyond our own Solar System. All talks will be given in English. – We warmly welcome everyone interested! 🌌

Read more about the event here: https://www.mn.uio.no/geo/om/aktuelt/arrangementer/2026/platoweek-18-oslo-public-evening-event.html

Postdoctor at PHAB, Elena Mamonova was recently interviewed in UiO's science magazine, Titan.uio.no about red dwarfs and exoplanets. Check it out:

Nå vet vi mer om hvilke planeter som kan ha liv - Titan.uio.no Røde dvergstjerner preges av voldsomme energiutbrudd. Det trenger ikke nødvendigvis ødelegge muligheten for liv på planeter rundt stjernen.

The Royal Astronomical Society awards postdoctoral fellow at PHAB, Hannah Sanderson, the RAS 2025 Keith Runcorn Thesis Prize for Best Thesis in Geophysics and Planetary Science. Read more about Hannah's thesis on our webpage:

Royal Astronomical Society awards Keith Runcorn thesis prize to Hannah Sanderson for her PhD thesis - Centre for Planetary Habitability The Royal Astronomical Society in the United Kingdom awards the 2025 Keith Runcorn Thesis Prize for the Best Thesis in Geophysics and Planetary Science to Hannah Sanderson, postdoctoral fellow at PHAB.

On May 12, dr. Ravit Helled will give a talk at the Kepler seminar. She will present a proposal for a new evolutionary pathway for the formation history of giant planets.

A new perspective on giant planet formation - Centre for Planetary Habitability By Dr. Ravit Helled, Professor and Director of UZH Space and the Department of Astrophysics, University of Zurich.

PHAB colleague Vincent Kofman explains how the new portrait of the Earth "Hello, World" taken on April 2, by the Artemis II crew, can be interpreted.

– Det er så mange detaljer som er synlige Her er hva vi kan se på det nye portrettet av jordkloden, tatt på Artemis II-ferden.

Next GeoWednesday, April 15, our very own centre leader, Stephanie Werner, is giving a talk: "Exoplanets, near and far, small and rare, large and plenty?"

If you are curious about what we know - and do not know - about the habitability of exoplanet, this talk is for you!

Exoplanets, near and far, small and rare, large and plenty? - University of Oslo Library Welcome to the talk

And PHAB has yet another postdoc position open for applications. This one is a part of the very interesting GIANTS project, focusing on giant impacts around the sun and other solar systems. Go make your application. Deadline May 15 for this one.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Exoplanetary Sciences (298792) | University of Oslo Job title: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Exoplanetary Sciences (298792), Employer: University of Oslo, Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026

PHAB has another PostDoc position in exoplanetary science out with deadline April 20. That means you have two postdocs to choose from. Go make your application!

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Exoplanetary Sciences (298422) | University of Oslo Job title: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Exoplanetary Sciences (298422), Employer: University of Oslo, Deadline: Monday, April 20, 2026