Bruce Damer

Dr. Bruce Damer is an astrobiologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz and Chief Scientist of the BIOTA Institute. His research focuses on how life emerged from inanimate matter and how similar processes might occur elsewhere in the universe. With biophysicist David Deamer, he co-developed the Hot Spring Hypothesis for an Origin of Life, which proposes that cycles of hydration and dehydration in volcanic hydrothermal fields could drive the formation of protocells and early evolving chemical systems. Damer’s work spans experimental prebiotic chemistry including active field work in volcanic areas, complexity science, and models of emergent biological organization. In parallel, he has contributed to NASA mission concepts and spacecraft architectures designed to support exploration, resource utilization, and the long-term expansion of life beyond Earth. His work bridges computing, planetary science, biology, and the long-term future of civilization.