Our universe is full of molecules, from the simplest – molecular hydrogen – all the way up to the complex molecular structures essential to the chemistry of life on Earth. A large and diverse array of chemical species has been detected not only on planets but in interstellar clouds, in regions of star formation, in protoplanetary disks, and in comets and meteorites within the solar system. But how and when was all this material formed, and how does it evolve over time? How much molecular content is inherited from one stage of star and planet formation to the next? What role does the chemistry of the universe through cosmic time play in the origins of life? A major unanswered question remains whether the molecules essential to life were produced on the early Earth (endogenous origin), or whether they were produced in the parent interstellar medium or planet-forming disk and delivered to Earth via asteroids, comets and their meteoritic remains (exogenous origin).

The Global Astrochemistry Lecture Series 2025 is brought to you by leading scientists from across the planet who are active in this cutting edge research field and is offered freely to university students across the planet who are interested in this topic. However, the successful delivery of the course depends on us paying a modest fee to one of our research students to act as a moderator for the sessions. That's why we are opening up to the world to help us to continue to offer this series for zero-cost to those attending.