📆 Friday - June 5 2026
🕗 10:00 - 11:00
📍 Virtual - Instagram @malokabogota

Extraterrestrial oceans are large bodies of liquid water (either saline or freshwater) that exist on other celestial bodies within the Solar System, such as the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, as well as on exoplanets. Unlike Earth's oceans, most of these extraterrestrial oceans are concealed beneath thick layers of ice, making them prime targets in the search for extraterrestrial life, including microbial and extremophilic organisms.

NASA scientists are actively searching for signs of life in environments such as Europa (a moon of Jupiter) and Enceladus and Titan (moons of Saturn), where vast subsurface oceans are believed to exist, maintained in a liquid state through gravitational and tidal heating. In addition, astronomers have recently identified a new class of exoplanets known as Hycean worlds—water-covered planets with hydrogen-rich atmospheres that may possess conditions suitable for supporting life.

Speakers

Ph.D. ANA LUCÍA CAICEDO LAURIDO

Head of Scientific Research, Technological Development, and Maritime Innovation.

Dr. Caicedo Laurido holds a Ph.D. in Marine Sciences from Jorge Tadeo Lozano University and a Master's degree in Oceanography from the Almirante Padilla Naval Academy in Cartagena. She has additional training in Public Management, Governance, and Political Leadership. She participated in the Third Colombian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica and was recently awarded the Military Medal “Antarctic Spirit” in recognition of her contributions to Antarctic research.

She has extensive experience in the design, coordination, and implementation of interdisciplinary scientific research, technological development, and maritime innovation projects. She has represented Colombia in numerous national and international committees, including the Southeast Pacific Regional Workshop within the framework of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Ph.D. (c) DAVID TOVAR

David Tovar is a Colombian planetary geologist and astrobiologist with professional experience in planetary sciences, volcanology, terrestrial analogues, extreme environments, and geological mapping. His research focuses on evaluating the geological, geochemical, and geomorphological characteristics of diverse locations around the world in order to classify them as planetary analogues. As part of this work, he also conducts research in geobiology and geomicrobiology, with a particular emphasis on extremophilic and extremotolerant microorganisms, as well as biogeochemical cycles, for their application in astrobiological studies.

Additionally, he is Associate Researcher with the Colombian Antarctic Program, Co-Director of the Planetary Sciences and Astrobiology Research Group (GCPA) at the National University of Colombia, Scientific Director of the LAGUNA Scientific Corporation, and President of Europlanet Colombia.

UNUSUAL CONVERSATIONS – Virtual

Extraterrestrial Oceans