Latin American Astrobiology Network

This chapter presents the origins, evolution, and institutional structure of the Latin American Astrobiology Network (Red Latinoamericana de Astrobiología), a collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening scientific cooperation across the region in astrobiology and planetary sciences. The early efforts to establish a regional network date back to the late 1990s with the organization of Ibero-American postgraduate schools in astrobiology and the participation of leading researchers from Latin America and Europe. This and other initiatives laid the groundwork for the formal creation of a network in 2018 during the Second Latin American Congress of Astrobiology, held in Bogotá, Colombia. Since then, the Network has organized successive congresses, expanded its membership across the region, and formalized its statutes, objectives, and operational structure based on national nodes and associated members. The chapter describes the governance model, foundational principles, and long-term objectives of the Network, emphasizing its role in promoting interdisciplinary research, education, public engagement, and international collaboration. The Latin American Astrobiology Network stands as a dynamic and inclusive platform for advancing the study of life in the Universe from a regional perspective.