Exo/Astrobiology - the study of the origins, early evolution, distribution and destiny of life -
is a multidisciplinary science which encompasses the disciplines of chemistry, biology, geology,
palaeontology, atmospheric physics, planetary sciences, astronomy and astrophysics. Most
aspects of this research require substantial resources, in analytical or simulation laboratory
facilities, ground instrumentation, spacecraft and staffing. There are several centres of
excellence in exo/astrobiology or related fields of research in Europe and several nations
have established national networks.

EANA was created to co-ordinate their research expertise and facilities at the European
level to achieve the following specific objectives :

- to bring together active European researchers to link their research programmes.
- to fund exchange visits between laboratories and the sharing of facilities for research.
- to attract young scientists to participate practically in this evolving interdisciplinary field.
- to create a website establishing a database of expertise and facilities to avoid duplication
  of effort and to   optimise the sharing of resources.
- to promote this important field of research to European funding agencies and politicians.
- to promote research on extremophiles of relevance to environmental issues in Europe.
- to interface the Research Network with European bodies
  (e.g. ESA, and European Commission)
- to promote public interest and to educate the younger generation, who are tomorrow’s
   scientists.

The value of sharing resources on an international scale was highlighted at:

- the Inaugural Meeting of the European Exo/Astrobiology Steering Group at the
  British National Space Centre, London on 25-26 October 1999
- the Strategy-oriented Open Exo/Astrobiology Meeting at CNES,
   Paris on 18-19 October 2000.

The European Exo/Astrobiology Network Association has been formalized as an Association
in May 21-23 2001 during the First European Workshop on Exo/Astobiology in Frascati, Italy,
attended by 200 scientists. EANA is run by an Executive Council consisting of national members
representing European nations active in the field, on the basis of one representative per nation
and elected members in a number equal to the number of active nations.

Presently, the Executive Council of 24 members has the following composition :

Officers :
A. Brack (FR, President), P. Ehrenfreund* (NL, Vice-President), J. Juan Perez-Mercader*
(ES, Vice-President), D. Wynn-Williams (UK, Vice-President), L. Colangeli (IT, Secretary),
A. Penny (UK, Secretary), B. Hofmann* (CH, treasurer).

Councillors :
R. Amils (SP), C. Cockell* (UK), C. Cosmovici* (IT), L. Cruzeiro-Hansson* (PT), D. Field* (DK),
A. Hjalmarson* (SE), N. Holm (SE), G. Horneck* (DE), G. von Kiedrowski (DE), J.M. Knudsen (DK),
H. Lammer* (AT), R. Paepe* (BE), D. Prieur (FR), F. Raulin* (FR), M. Rizzotti (IT),
H. Stan-Lotter (AT), K. Stetter (DE) * national members representing a country.