In the space between the stars, clouds of gas and dust collapse to form new star systems. In this process, a diverse set of molecules also forms. The discovery of these molecules begs the question: is this where the building blocks for life come from? With radio and infrared observations, we can use these molecules to try to figure out, physically, how star and planet systems are born and, chemically, how the ingredients for life may appear. In this talk, I’ll give an overview of this cosmic chemistry and describe how modern and next-generation telescopes will transform our understanding.

 

 

 

 

 

Pamela is a postdoctoral fellow at the Instituto de Astronomía y Astrofísica in Mexico, specializing in observational radio astronomy. She completed her Master’s and PhD in astronomy from the University of Calgary; a short move from where she grew up in Edmonton. In her graduate studies, she explored many aspects of astronomy: she developed instrumentation for the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, she worked in observational radio astronomy, and she completed a science communication internship at the European Southern Observatory. She loves engaging people with astronomy, especially radio astronomy, and you can find her writing about it in the pages of the Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.