Ian Crawford (astrobiologist)

Ian Andrew Crawford (born 1961 in Warrington, Cheshire, United Kingdom ) is professor of planetary science and astrobiology at Birkbeck, University of London. Crawford is a specialist in the science and exploration of the Moon and in the search for life in the Universe. Before switching his research interests to planetary science in 2003, Crawford had a 15-year career at University College London as an observational astronomer specializing in studies of the interstellar medium. He is the author of over 130 peer-reviewed research papers in the fields of astronomy, planetary science, astrobiology and space exploration.

Crawford is a Fellow, and currently Vice President, of the Royal Astronomical Society, and a former member of the European Space Sciences Committee (ESSC) of the European Science Foundation. In 2014 he was appointed to the European Space Agency's Human Spaceflight and Exploration Science Advisory Committee (HESAC).

Education

 * Ph.D. Astrophysics, University College London, 1988
 * M.Sc. Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1983
 * B.Sc. Astronomy, University College London, 1982
 * North Cestrian Grammar School, Altrincham, Cheshire, 1972-1979

Selected publications

 * "Widening Perspectives: The Intellectual and Social Benefits of Astrobiology (Regardless of Whether Extraterrestrial Life is Discovered or Not)", International Journal of Astrobiology (2017)
 * "The Long-Term Scientific Benefits of a Space Economy", Space Policy (Vol. 37, pp. 58–61, 2016).
 * "Lunar Resources: A Review", Progress in Physical Geography (Vol. 39, pp. 137–167, 2015).
 * "Interplanetary Federalism: Maximising the Chances of Extraterrestrial Peace, Diversity and Liberty", published in: The Meaning of Liberty Beyond Earth (ed. C.S. Cockell, pp. 199–218, Springer, 2015).
 * "Avoiding Intellectual Stagnation: The Starship as an Expander of Minds", Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, 67, 253-257, 2014)
 * "Lunar Exploration: Opening a Window into the History and Evolution of the Inner Solar System", Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (Vol. A372, Article ID 20130315, 2014).
 * "Back to the Moon: The Scientific Rationale for Resuming Lunar Surface Exploration", Planetary and Space Science (Vol. 74, pp. 3–14, 2012).
 * "Astrobiological Benefits of Human Space Exploration", Astrobiology (Vol. 10, pp. 577–587, 2010).