Motivation

The COST Action NanoSpace (CA21126) brings together researchers and innovators from 67 countries and several industrial partners. NanoSpace  proposes a highly multidisciplinary approach in order to understand the physics and chemistry of carbon molecular nanostructures in space, taking advantage of the successful operation of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), new ground-based facilities to simulate the interstellar and circumstellar media (ISM/CSM), as well as recent developments in computational facilities and laboratory techniques.

The Final COST NanoSpace Joint Scientific Meeting will focus on the fundamental and applied research of diverse carbon-based molecular nanostructures — including fullerenes, graphene, carbon nanotubes, and their derivatives — within the broader context of space science and exploration. The meeting will address key questions related to the formation, evolution, properties, and potential applications of these nanocarbon materials under space-relevant conditions. Discussions will be structured around the major Working Group (WG) topics, and including thematic areas such as: (i) formation and characterization; (ii) space radiation and stability; (iii) astrobiology and planetary science; (iv) applications in space technology; (v) laboratory studies; and vi) catalysis in space, among others. By bringing together experimental, theoretical, and observational perspectives, the meeting aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and consolidate the scientific advances achieved within the COST Action NanoSpace.

This is the Final Joint Action Meeting (in person), focused on the main Action scientific results achieved by the interaction and collaboration among the diversity of disciplines (laboratory astrophysics, theoretical chemistry and physics, astronomy, astrobiology, material science, among others) and researchers (especially from Inclusiveness Target Countries and Young Researchers) of the Action. The program will be composed by scientific sessions separated by WG topic, and short special sessions on the NanoSpace Knowledge Hub, NanoSpace games, and NanoSpace links with industry are also planned.

THERE IS NO REGISTRATION FEE and the NanoSpace COST Action will provide financial support (i.e., reimbursement after the event) for a significant number of participants (at least ~60-80), with high priority to PhD students and Young Researchers presenting a contribution (contributed talk or poster) and researchers with a primary affiliation in an institution located in an Inclusiveness Target Country (ITC) / Near Neighbour Country (NNC) participating in the Action. The information requested in the registration form will be used to select the final list of registered participants as well as those eligible for financial support, which will be notified in advance of the meeting (i.e., by the end of July 2026). The attendees are expected to arrange their own travel and accommodation ( see Venue, Logistics & Accomodation for more information ).

ITC (Inclusiveness Target Countries) – Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, and Ukraine*.

NNC (Near Neighbour Countries) – Algeria, Azerbaijan, [Belarus]*, Egypt, the Faroe Islands, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, [Russia]*, Syria, and Tunisia.

 

About the NanoSpace COST Action

The main aim and objective of the COST Action NanoSpace (“Carbon molecular nanostructures in space”; CA21126) is to advance the fundamental understanding of the physics and chemistry of cosmic carbon nanomaterials (nanocarbons; nC) and their relevance in non-terrestrial environments by promoting the interdisciplinary combination of state-of-the-art astronomical, laboratory, and theoretical studies, among others.
 
The main Action scientific challenges are the following:

In order to attack the scientific challenge, NanoSpace proposes an interdisciplinary approach, combining the expertise from a wide range of disciplines like observational astronomy, laboratory astrophysics, astrobiology, theoretical chemistry, synthetic chemistry, molecular reaction dynamics, material science, spectroscopy, graph theory, and data science (AI, big data). Researchers and innovators from all these fields are thus welcome to participate in this Final NanoSpace Joint Scientific Meeting. Read more about NanoSpace
 

NOTE: The applicants eligible for financial support (i.e. reimbursement after the event) are requested to consult the COST Annotated Rules (Annex 1) for information about COST rules and procedures for COST meetings. The financial support does not necessarily cover all expenses related to participating in the meeting and they are contributions to the overall travel, accommodation and meal expenses of the participant.
*:  Please consult the specific COST measures taken regarding the participation of researchers/innovators from these countries (Russia, Belarus and non-government controlled territories of Ukraine) in the Annex I of Level A Country and Organisations .