Luke Steller

Luke Steller is a geologist, astrobiology researcher and science engagement specialist whose work spans prebiotic chemistry, early Earth environments and science education. He holds a PhD in geology from the University of New South Wales, where his research investigated the environmental and geochemical conditions associated with some of the earliest evidence for life on Earth in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and their implications in the origins of life on Earth.

During his PhD, Luke worked in Professor David Deamer’s laboratory at the University of California, Santa Cruz, contributing to experimental research into the chemical and environmental conditions relevant to the origin of life. In 2016, he was also involved with the NASA Spaceward Bound Ladakh expedition in the Indian Himalayas, working in an analogue environment used to investigate the limits of life and the types of environments that may inform the search for life beyond Earth.
Alongside his research, Luke has spent the past eight years developing science education and community engagement programs that connect researchers, educators and communities. His work has included building partnerships between schools and First Nations Knowledge Holders to support On-Country learning, developing education programs in communities transitioning from coal-based economies, and creating The STEAM Room, a national science comedy show featuring Dr Karl that trained researchers to communicate their work through storytelling and performance.