Sunday, April 7, 2002

Hangar 1

1:00

5:30

6:30

Overview lectures begin at 1:00 and continue through 5:00 PM

—Registration

—Put up Posters (size allowed 48" H x 46" W, pushpins provided)

Klein Lecture — Alexander Rich, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

“Memories Of Chuck Klein in The Viking Mission & How Studying Left-Handed DNA May Lead to a Therapy for Smallpox”

Introduced by Maurice Averner/ NASA Ames Research Center

and Baruch Blumberg/Director, NASA Astrobiology Institute

Evening Reception

Monday, April 8, 2002

Hangar 1

8:30

Welcome

H. McDonald/Director, NASA         Ames Research Center

Baruch Blumberg/Director, NASA         Astrobiology Institute

Michael Meyer/NASA         Headquarters

Maurice Averner/ NASA Ames Research Center

David Peterson/ NASA Ames Research Center

8:50

Introduction

L. Rothschild/NASA Ames         Research Center

Invited Talks

Theme: Is The Universe A Bio-Friendly Place?

Session Chair: TBD

Hangar 1

9:00

Paul Davies/Australian Centre for         Astrobiology, Macquarie University

9:35

The Wet Universe: What We're Learning About Water Beyond Our Solar System

Gary Melnick/Center for         Astrophysics

10:10

Break

10:40

Where Can Photosynthesis Occur?

John Raven/University of Dundee

11:15

Europa as an Abode of Life

Chris Chyba/SETI Institute and         Stanford University

11:50

Early Oceans: Cradles of Life or Death Traps?

Paul Knauth/Arizona State         University

12:05

Extinctions in Near Time: Repairing the Damage

Paul Martin/University of Arizona

12:40

Lunch in the Dining Tent  –  Posters available for viewing

Invited Talks

Theme: Is the Universe a Bio-Friendly Place? Focus on Mars

Session Chair: Scott Hubbard/NASA Ames Research Center

Hangar 1

1:30

Astrobiology and Its Mission

Michael Meyer/NASA         Headquarters

1:40

Exploration of Mars: A Scientific Perspective

Ron Greeley/Arizona State         University

2:15

NASA's Mars Exploration Program: The Trajectory of Knowledge, with First Results from ODYSSEY

Jim Garvin/NASA Headquarters

2:50

Mars Soil Formation and Properties: The “Acid Fog” Hypothesis in View of Recent Evidence

Amos Banin/Hebrew University

3:15

Biotechnology for Solar System Exploration

A. Steele, J. Maule, J. Toporski V. Parro Garcia, C. Briones,

M. Schweitzer, D. McKay

3:30

The AstroBiology Explorer (ABE) MIDEX Mission Concept

S. Sandford, K. Ennico,

L. Allamandola, J. Bregman,

T. Greene, D. Hudgins

3:45

We Must Bring Back Martian Samples

D. McKay, E. Gibson,

K. Thomas-Keprta, S. Clemett,

S. Wentworth

4:00

A Vanguard for Astrobiology: A Bio-Rover for Mars

A. Ellery, D. Wynn-Williams,

H. Edwards, D. Dickensheets,

C. Welch, A. Curly

4:15

The 2002 Leonid Multi-Instrument Aircraft Campaign

P. Jenniskens, S. J. Butow

4:30

Laboratory Calibration Studies in Support of an ISS Exposure Experiment and Comparison to the Diffuse Interstellar Bands

R. Ruiterkamp, T. Halasinski, F. Salama, B. Foing,

P. Ehrenfreund

3:15

Diversity of Dissimilatory Sulphite Reductase (DSR) Genes in the Guaymas Basin

A. Dhillon, A. P. Teske,

M. L. Sogin

3:30

Amino Acid Racemization as an Indicator for In Situ Molecular Repair

G. McDonald, A. Tsapin,

D. Gilichinsky

3:45

Novel Viruses From Extreme Thermal Environments

M. Young, G. Rice,

K. Stedman, J. Snyder,

B. Wiedenheft, T. McDermott

4:00

A Thin Meteorite Layer Protects Bacterial Spores in Space

G. Horneck, P. Rettberg

4:15

Ice Bacterial Abundance, Activity and Motility Observed At Subzero Temperatures in Arctic Sea and Lake Ice

K. Junge, D. M. Allen,

H. Eicken, J. W. Deming

4:30

Mineral Substrates as a Source of Metabolic Energy for Primary Biomass

K. Edwards, T. McCollom,

D. Rogers

4:45

Analysis of Changes in Arabidopsis Thaliana. Statocyte Structure in Response to Hypergravity

R. Ehsanian, S. D. Hopkins,

D. K. Bruck, J. D. Smith

3:15

Rapid Rates of Change in South American Vegetation Linked to 'El Nino' Southern Oscillation

H. D'Antoni, D. L. Peterson,

A. Mlinarevic

3:30

Past Sea Surface Temperature Derived from Tree Rings

H. D'Antoni, A. Mlinarevic

3:45

The Runaway Greenhouse Effect on Earth and its Implication for Other Planets

M. Rabbette, C. McKay, P. Pilewskie, R. Young, S. Clanton

4:00

Mass-Independent Fractionation of Oxygen Isotopes in Earth's Atmosphere

J. Lyons

4:15

Sustainability of Carbon Sequestration in the Duke Forest Ecosystem

Y. Luo, L. White, E. DeLucia,

C. Finzi, J. Lichter,

W. Schlesinger

3:15

Integrin-Mediated Cellular Response To Hypergravity

W. Vercoutere, C. Roden,

E. Holton, N. Searby,

R. Globus, E. Almeida

3:30

Centrifugation Stimulates The Immune Response Of Macrophages

R. K. Globus, M. L Delute,

J-H Yu, S. L. Weinstein

3:45

Osteoblast Cytoskeletal and PGE2 Responses to Hypergravity

N. D. Searby, C. R. Steele,

R. K. Globus

4:00

G12, A Potential Checkpoint Protein in Zebrafish; Implications for Cancer Progression and Radiation Repair

S. Reinsch, G. Conway

4:15

Insertional Mutagenesis Screen for Genes Involved in Otic/Vestibular Development and Function in Xenopus Tropicalis

M. Torrejon, E. Li, M. Nguyen, S. Winfree, E. Wang, S. Reinsch

4:30

Behavioral and Physiological Components of Labor in Pregnant Rats

L. A. Baer, C. E. Wade,

A. E. Ronca

4:45

Gravity Level Modulates mRNA Expression of Metabolic Enzymes in the Liver

C. E. Wade, L. A. Baer,

T. P. Stein

4:45 –

5:30

Poster Session

5:00

Editorial Board Meeting of IJA (invitation only)  -  Location TBD

IJA-Simon Mitton, Cambridge       University Press, et al.

5:30

Open discussion of university-level astrobiology education in Building 3, Ballroom

David Morrison/NASA Ames       Research Center, NASA       Astrobiology Institute

Woody Sullivan/University of       Washington

Tuesday, April 9, 2002

Invited Talks

Theme: …from so simple a beginning…

Session Chair: TBD

Hangar 1

8:30

From Interstellar Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Ice to Astrobiology

Lou Allamandola/NASA Ames         Research Center

9:05

Self-Assembly Processes and the Biophysics of Life's Origins

David Deamer/University of         California, Santa Cruz

9:40

Digital Organisms for Experimental Evolution

Chris Adami/California Institute of         Technology, Jet Propulsion Lab

10:15

Benton Clark/LMA and Center for         Astrobiology

10:30

Break

Invited Talks

Theme: …endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved… (innovation)

Session Chair: Simon Conway Morris/University of Cambridge

Hangar 1

11:00

Constructing Innovation: The Intersection of Genetics, Ecology and Environment

Doug Erwin/The Smithsonian       Institution

11:35

The seX-files: Searching for the Origins of Viral Sex

Paul Turner/Yale University

12:10

Viruses and Astrobiology

Baruch Blumberg/Director, NASA       Astrobiology Institute

12:25

Lunch in the Dining Tent – Posters available for viewing

Invited Talks

Theme: …endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved… (innovation)

Session Chair: Simon Conway Morris/University of Cambridge

Hangar 1

1:30

Photosynthetic Eukaryotes: From the Acquisition of Organelles to the Colonization of the Land

Chuck Delwiche/University of         Maryland

2:05

Embryos, Monsters and the Evolution of Developmental Pathways

Rudolf A. Raff/Indiana University         Bloomington

3:00

Estimates of Europa's Heat Flow and Ice Shell Thickness: Convergence at Last?

W. B. McKinnon, P.M. Schenk

A. J. Dombard

3:15

Shear Heating and Solid State Convection on Europa: Implications for Astrobiology

A. Barr, R. Pappalardo,

F. Nimmo, E. Gaidos

3:30

Terrestrial Extremophiles Under Europan Surface Conditions

James Brad Dalton, H. Kagawa, R. Mogul

3:45

Radiolytic Degradation of Molecular Biosignatures

R. W. Carlson, M.S. Anderson

4:00

Microbial Processes and their Coupling to Ice Dynamics in Perennial Ice Covers on Earth: Insights for Europan Environments

H. Fritsen, J. Priscu,

E. Adams, P. Doran

4:15

The Pressure Factor in Europa's Aqueous Evolution

S. Vance, J. M. Brown, J. Kargel

3:00

E. J. Javaux, A. H. Knoll,

M. R. Walter

3:15

Kerogen Distribution in Oxide Bearing Microfossils from the Gunflint Formation

B. De Gregorio, T. Sharp

3:30

Banded Iron Formations Indicate an Oxygenated Atmosphere-Ocean System Since ~3.8 Ga

H. Ohmoto

3:45

Laser-Raman Imagery of the Oldest Fossils on Earth

J. W. Schopf, A.B. Kudryavtsev, D. G. Agresti, A. D. Czaja,

T. J. Wdowiak

4:00

Questioning the Evidence for Earth’s Oldest Fossils

M. D. Brasier, O. R. Green,

A. Steele, M. Van Kranendonk,

A. P. Jephcoat, A. K. Kleppe,

J. F. Lindsay, N. V. Grassineau

3:00

Cosmic Origins: A Traveling Science Exhibit and Education Program

P. Dusenbery, C. Morrow

3:15

Voyages Through Time: An Integrated Science Course for Astrobiology

J. Tarter, E. DeVore,

J. Fisher, Y. Pendleton,

K. O'Sullivan, M. Burke

3:30

Astronomy Village: Investigating the Solar System; Astrobiology In Middle School

S. Croft

3:45

Student Research in Astrobiology

J. Asbell-Clarke, J. Lockwood, D. Barstow

4:00

An Online Astrobiology Course for Teachers

E. Prather, T. Slater

4:15

Microscope: A New NAI Resource for Promoting Microbial Biodiversity

D. Patterson, M. Sogin

4:30

Yellowstone National Park Offers Public Access to Astrobiology

C. Tsairides, D. Chalfant,

D. Des Marais, J. Farmer,

N. Hinman, R. Mancinelli,

L. Rothschild, D. Ward,

L. Young

3:00

Ecological Stoichiometry of Stromatolitic Cyanobacteria-Diatom Mats and Hydrobiid Snail Grazers in Thermal Springs at Cuatrocienegas, Mexico

J. Elser, M. Kyle, J. Schampel,

J. Watts

3:15

Common Ancestry of Some Metabolic Enzymes in Escherichia coli

L. Alves Nahum,

S. K. Goswami, M. Riley

3:30

Genetic Diversity and Dynamics of Stromolite-Associated Microbial Populations

B. Burns, B. Neilan, D. Relman, D. Lowe

3:45

Additional Evidence from Molecular Clocks for the Precambrian Colonization of Land by Plants

N. Kardos, S. B. Hedges

4:00

Mantle Redox Evolution and the Rise of Atmospheric 0₂

J. Kasting, H. D. Holland

4:15

Alternative Trajectories for Life on Other Worlds: Lessons from the Evolution of Life on Earth

L. Irwin, D. Schulze-Makuch

5:30

Open discussion of the possibility and potential of forming an international professional organization for astrobiology  —  Patio Room

5:45

Roadmap meeting, led by David DesMarais/NASA Ames Research Center, Michael Meyer, Carl Pilcher/NASA Headquarters  —  Ballroom

4:30 –

6:30

Poster Session and Reception 

Wednesday, April 10, 2001

Invited Talks

Theme: Taking Inventory. Part 1. Life in the Universe

Session Chair: TBD

Hangar 1

8:30

The Origin of Habitats: Observational Constraints on Star and Planet Formation

John Bally/University of Colorado

9:05

Planetary Systems Around Other Stars

Geoff Marcy/University of California, Berkeley

9:40

Habitable Zones Around Stars and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Jim Kasting/Pennsylvania Sate         University

10:15

SETI: Pulling Signals Out of Cosmic Noise

Jill Tarter/SETI Institute

10:50

Break

Invited Talks

Theme: Taking Inventory. Part 2. Life in Our Solar System

Session Chair: TBD

Hangar 1

11:20

Tales from the Outer Limits of Astrobiology: Titan and Giant Planets (Near and Far)

Jonathan Lunine/University of         Arizona

11:55

Exo/Astrobiology in Europe: Selected Highlights (including, of course, Beagle 2)

Andre Brack/Centre de         Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS

12:30

Lunch in the Dining Tent followed by Poster Session until 2:45.

Students stand by posters 1:15 - 2:45 for Poster Judging.

Invited Talks

Theme: Taking Inventory. Part 2. Life in Our Solar System

Session Chair: David J. Patterson, University of Sidney

Hangar 1

2:45

Impacts and the Habitability of the Hadean Earth

Kevin Zahnle/NASA Ames         Research Center

Norm Sleep/Stanford University

3:20

The Search for Ancient Life: A Fossil Hunter's Notions

J.W. Schopf/University of California,         Los Angeles

3:55

What the Tree of Life Really Means

W. Ford Doolittle/Dalhousie         University

4:30

Life in Rock: A Molecular Analysis of Endolithic Microbial Communities in the Rocky Mountain Region

Jeffrey Walker, Norm Pace/      University of Colorado

4:45

Auditing the Earth

Stuart Pimm/Columbia University

5:20

End of lecture

5:30

NAI NRC meeting (current NAI NRC fellows, their advisors and NAI Executive Council) in Patio Room, Building 3

7:00

Sci Fi night chaired by Keith Cowing, Reston Communication. Featuring Paul Davies: “How to Build a Time Machine"

Burrito Night  —  Student Poster Competition Winners announced: Awards presented by Baruch Blumberg, Director, NASA Astrobiology Institute

Thursday, April 11, 2001

Invited Talks

Theme: Ecosystem focus: Microbial mats

Session Chair: TBD

Hangar 1

8:25

Presentation of the Bergey’s Medal on behalf of The Bergey's Manual Trust.

Frederick A. Rainey/Secretary of the Bergey’s Manual Trust. Louisiana State University.

8:30

Microbial Mats Help Us Understand Our Origins and Search for Distant Biospheres

David DesMarais/NASA Ames         Research Center

9:05

Biofilms: A Mode of Survival for Bacteria in Extreme Environments.

Anne Camper/Montana State         University

9:40

Dental Plaque as a Microbial Mat

Paul Kolanbrander/National         Institutes of Health

10:15

Kenneth Stedman/Portland State         University

George Rice, Jamie Snyder, Blake Wiednheft, Mark Young/             Montana State University

Wolfram Zillig/Max Planck         Institute for Biochemistry

11:00

The Coronagraphic Option for Terrestrial Planet Finder

S. Kilston, R. Linfield

11:15

Extrasolar Planet Color Implies Physical Properties

W. Traub

11:30

Nearby Young Stars and Planets

I. Song, M. S. Bessell,

B. Zuckerman

11:45

Terrestrial Planet Formation in Extrasolar Systems

J. Chambers

12:00

Rapid Ice Giant Planet Formation and the Implications for Prebiotic Chemistry

A. Boss, G. Wetherill,

N. Haghighipou

11:00

Reduced Nitrogen Compounds in Hydrothermal Vent Systems: A Critical Evaluation

M. Schoonen, A. Smirnov

11:15

High-Speed Spectroscopic Observation of Chemical Reaction of Carbon Within Impact-Induced Vapor Clouds

S. Sugita, P. Schultz

11:30

Non-Enzymatic Oligomerization on DNA Templates Containing Propynyl Pyrimidine Nucleobases

S. Sinha, J. Chaput, C. Switzer

11:45

In Vitro Selection of Peptide-Dependent and Protein-Dependent Ribozymes

S. Knudsen, M. Robertson,

A. Ellington

12:00

Peptides at Membrane Surfaces and Their Role in Prebiotic Evolution

M. Wilson, A. Pohorille

12:15

Self-Ligation of the Hairpin Robozyme Under Freezing and Dehydration Conditions: A Possible Prebiotic Reaction

S. Kazakov, B. Johnston

12:30

Comparative Biology of Replicators

A. Ellington, M. Levy

11:00

A Conceptual Model of a Robotics Laboratory to Search for Life in Martian Water and Permafrost

D. Gan, L. Kuznetz

11:15

Neutron Computed Tomography Reconstructions of Microbial Structures in Carbonate and Silicate Rocks

M. C. Wilding, D. Y. Sumner, C. E. Lesher, K. E. Shields,

D. Reap, W. J. Richards

11:30

Visualization of Surfacial and Internal Structure and Chemistry Utilizing CT and Neutron Imaging

R. Bhartia, A. Tsapin,

A. Thompson, R. Wang,

C. Suey

11:45

Ultrasonic/Sonic Drill/Corer (USDC) as a Sampler and Sensor Platform

Y. Bar-Cohen, X. Bao,

N. Bridges, Z. Chang,

B. Dolgin, C. McKay, S. Sherrit, T. Peterson

11:00

The Diversity of Life in a Crystalline Salt Ecosystem

J. Spear, R. Ley, N. Pace

11:15

Organic Content of Atacama Desert Soils Along the North to South Gradient

R. Navarro-Gonzalez,

C. McKay, P. Molina

11:30

16sRNA-Defined Populations of Hot Spring Microbial Mates from the Philippines

S. Pointing, S. Nagarkar,

K. Warren-Rhodes

11:45

Geochemical Culturing Methods Link Hydrothermal Environments with Thermophile Communities

D. Meyer-Dombard, E. Shock,

J. P. Amend

12:00

A Culture-Independent Survey of the Bacterial Community in a Radon Hot Spring in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia

R. Anitori, C. Trott, D. J Saul,

P. L. Bergquist, M. Walter

12:15

The effects of low sulfate concentrations on modern microbial mat communities: a long term manipulation

B. Bebout, S. Carpenter, D. J. Des Marais, M. Disciplulo, M. Hogan, K. Turk

12:30

Responses of C. Elegans to Hypergravity Treatment

C. Conley, I. Udranszky

12:45

Life Beneath Glacial Ice - Earth, Mars? Europa?

C. C. Allen, S. E. Grasby,

T. G Longazo, J. T. Lisle,

B. Beauchamp

11:00

Formation of Meteorite Hydrocarbons from Thermal Decomposition of the Mineral Siderite (FeCO3)

T. McCollom

11:15

Magnetite Crystals in ALH84001 Carbonates: Products of Multiple Origins

K. Thomas-Keprta, S. Clemett, C. Romanek, D. Bazylinski,

J. Kirschvink,            D. McKay

11:30

Carbonyl Sulfide as a Greenhouse Gas for Early Mars

M. Gerstell, Y. Young, H. Nair

11:45

Hydrous Alteration on the Surface of Mars: An Assessment of the Spectral Observations

S.W. Ruff, P. R. Christensen

12:00

Environmental Effects of Large Impacts on Mars: Implications for River Formation

T. L. Segura, O.B. Toon,

A. Colaprete, K. Zahnle

12:15

Biological Potential of Martian Hydrothermal Systems

S. Varnes, B. Jakosky

12:30

Convective Plumes as "Columns of Life"

B. Travis, N. Rosenberg,

J. Cuzzi

12:15

Lunch in the Dining Tent. Poster removal.

Invited Talks

Theme: Astrobiology: Why, How, and Where

Session Chair: TBD

Hangar 1

2:00

Why Astrobiology is Important to Biomedical Research

Steve Benner/University of Florida

2:35

From ET to AB: Public Perceptions of Astrobiology and How Museums Can Help

Laura Danly/Denver Museum of Science and Nature and Denver University

Carol Tang/California Academy of Sciences

Martin Weiss/New York Hall of Science

3:20

Bridging Living and Non-Living Matter

Steen Rasmussen/Los Alamos         National Lab; Santa Fe Institute

Liaochai Chen/Argonne National

        Laboratory

3:35

Cosmology and Life

Mario Livio/Space Telescope Science         Institute

4:10

Closing until 4:25