Mars 2030

MARTE 2030

A series of conversations with both feet on the Martian ground

The reasons to send humans on a journey to Mars and the challenges it poses are the theme for a series of conversations with researchers, co-produced by the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço, the Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier and Centro Cultural de Belém.

Mars 2030 is a series of conversations in interaction with the audience in which researchers will discuss the possibility of living on the red planet. The sessions will be held at Centro Cultural de Belém, in Lisbon, between October this year and January 2019.

They will cover the issues raised when we consider leaving our planet to test the human resistance on such a long journey to such an inhospitable place.

Image of the surface of Mars captured with the probe Curiosity Rover, of NASA.
Image of the surface of Mars captured with the probe Curiosity Rover, of NASA.
Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Programme of the series


Artistic impression of Mars 4 billion years ago
Artistic impression of Mars 4 billion years ago.
Credits: ESO/M. Kornmesser

13 October

The search for life on Mars and why we want to send people to the red planet.

Zita Martins, of Instituto Superior Técnico, and Adriano Henriques, of ITQB-NOVA 


The NASA's Orion spacecraft will carry astronauts further into space than ever before.
The NASA’s Orion spacecraft will carry astronauts further into space than ever before.

17 November

The biological and technological challenges of the trip, the staying and the return.

Rui Agostinho, of IA and Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL), and Pedro Fevereiro, of ITQB-NOVA


Artistic concept of a greenhouse on the surface of Mars for food production.
Artistic concept of a greenhouse on the surface of Mars for food production.
Credits: NASA

15 December

Ways of surviving on Mars, from producing food to the needs in material and energetic resources.

Pedro Machado, of IA and FCUL, and Isabel Abreu, of ITQB-NOVA


Artistic concept of a view on the surface of the exoplanet Gliese 667Cd.
Artistic concept of a view on the surface of the exoplanet Gliese 667Cd.
Credits: ESO/M. Kornmesser

12 January, 2019

This adventure may be the first step of a future of exploration, with other destinations aligned on the horizon, including the exoplanets, of which so many have already been found.

Nuno Santos, of IA and Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, and Ricardo Louro, of ITQB-NOVA

The series MARS 2030 will always take place on Saturdays from 21h00 to 23h00, in Sala Luís de Freitas Branco, at Centro Cultural de Belém. Prices are € 2.5 per session and € 8 for the whole series.

Find further details on the CCB website »