New Zealand at the Crossroads of Life, Science, and the Universe
The New Zealand Astrobiology Network (NZAN) brings together researchers, educators, explorers, and dreamers. Our logo tells the story of connection — across disciplines, across cultures, and across the stars.
The Story Behind the Logo
The original NZAN logo was designed as a simple, abstract mark:
It looks like a crossroads, symbolising a meeting place — a gathering of ideas and people.
It can also be seen as a neuron, the building block of life and thought.
It echoes a star person — humanity reaching into the cosmos.
When we created the second version, we placed this crossroads on a view of Earth from space, with New Zealand at the centre. From here, lines reach out like pathways, networks, or even rivers of possibility, extending into the wider world.
The colours were chosen with a nod to NASA — deep space blue and bright accents of red — creating an unconscious connection to the heritage of exploration while keeping the design cool, modern, and distinctively ours.
Together, these symbols reflect what NZAN stands for:
- A place of connection
- A network of life and ideas
- A uniquely New Zealand voice in the global conversation about life in the Universe.
About NZAN
The New Zealand Astrobiology Network (NZAN) is dedicated to exploring the origins, evolution, and future of life — on Earth and beyond. We connect scientists, teachers, students, and communities, fostering collaboration across disciplines and borders.
From classrooms to conferences, Māori knowledge to NASA partnerships, we are building a shared understanding of humanity’s place in the cosmos.
Logo Download Hub
Use our logo to show your connection to NZAN. Please follow the guidelines below to ensure consistency.
Download Options
- Full Colour Logo (Earth + NZ version)
- Black & White Logo (crossroads version)
- White on Transparent (for dark backgrounds)
- Vector Format (SVG / EPS) for professional design use
Logo Guidelines
- Keep clear space around the logo — don’t crowd it with text or images.
- Do not distort, rotate, or recolour the logo.
- Use the Earth version when representing NZAN in global contexts.
- Use the simplified crossroads version when a clean, minimal mark is required.
Contact
For media use, branding queries, or to request additional file formats, please contact:
📧 [Hari]
✨ NZAN: We connect with life.