Taellberg, Sweden - June 14-18, 2010.
Registration Deadline: May 1, 2010
Abstract submission Deadline: February 28, 2010

Conference Poster: http://www.abgradcon2010.org/attachments/049_abgradcon2010.pdf

In 2010, AbGradCon, the foremost astrobiology meeting for early-career researchers, will be held in Europe for the first time in its history. Graduate students and early-career postdocs from all over the world will come together to present their research in an informal environment, to learn of the latest developments in astrobiology, to network, and to forge new collaborations. The meeting will comprise oral and poster presentations, half-day workshops and a one-day field trip to geologically instructive sites in the astrobiologically interesting Siljan impact crater. Attendees are encouraged from the very wide range of subjects pertinent to astrobiology. Financial assistance will be available to invited attendees.

Further information is available at the conference website: http://www.abgradcon2010.org

[source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 5:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Daniel Glavin has been selected by the international Meteoritical Society as the recipient of the 2010 Nier Prize. The prestigious Nier Prize is awarded to young scientists performing valuable research in fields related to meteoritics and planetary science.

Dr. Glavin was presented with the prize for his work on extraterrestrial organic chemistry. By examining carbonaceous meteorites, Glavin and his team have made important contributions toward understanding why life uses only left-handed versions of amino acids. Molecules delivered to Earth in meteorites may have played a role in life's eventual bias toward molecules of a specific orientation. The work was recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

For more information: http://www.meteoriticalsociety.org/news_display.cfm?code=news_intro&itemID=49

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI Research Scholarship Program offers research-related travel support for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Applicants are encouraged to use these resources to circulate among two or more NAI Teams, or participating institutions of the NAI, however any travel that is critical for the applicant's research will be considered. There are two award cycles per year with deadlines of April 1 and October 1.

The NAI has selected the following students and postdoctoral fellows for awards in this cycle:

Mark Claire, University of Washington
Travel to Penn State University for collaboration with Jim Kasting
Advisors: Vikki Meadows, Jim Kasting

Noah Planavsky, University of California, Riverside
Travel to Northwestern Ontario in Spring 2010
Graduate Advisor: Tim Lyons

Dominic Papineau, Carnegie Institution of Washington
Travel to University of Hawaii to work with Gary Huss
Advisor: Marilyn Fogel

Meredith Perry, Pennsylvania State University
Travel to the Mojave Desert to examine Precambrian stromatolites
Advisor: Jane Dmochowski

For more information: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/nai-research-scholarships

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) is organizing a session at AbSciCon 2010 on "Integrating Astrobiology Research Across and Beyond the Community." The concept for the session reflects one of astrobiology's defining characteristics and a core mission of NAI: bringing together researchers from many disciplines to develop and foster interdisciplinary collaborations in astrobiology research. Participation in this session is invited regardless of affiliation with the NAI. The goal is to develop and foster interdisciplinary collaborations across the astrobiology community, with other science communities not currently engaged in astrobiology research, and with other communities such as philosophy of science, ethics, anthropology, etc.

We invite you to submit an abstract for this session. Abstracts should describe an innovative interdisciplinary collaboration addressing astrobiology research or its societal implications. Presentations on collaborations that are underway, in formation, or contemplated/desired are all welcome. Please note that the abstract deadline is Dec. 3, 2009. For further information about AbSciCon 2010 and abstract submission, please see the following websites:

Meeting date and location: April 26-29, 2010, at the South Shore Harbor Resort and Conference Center in League City, Texas.

Conference website: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2010

Abstract submission information: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2010/abscicon2010.elecinstr.html

ABSTRACT DEADLINE: 5:00 p.m. (CST) Thursday, December 3, 2009

[Source: Carl B. Pilcher, Director NASA Astrobiology Institute]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Astrobiologists searching for life in the universe, believe that Darwin's vision of natural selection promises to profoundly alter and expand the notion of life and its origins.

John Baross, an oceanographer and astrobiologist from the University of Washington, Seattle, will explore this topic on Monday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. PST at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View, Calif. Baross will reflect on Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection and possible evolutionary adaptations on other planetary bodies, in a lecture titled "Evolution of Astrobiology: Searching for Life in the Universe - A New Darwinian Voyage." Admission is free.
Sponsors of the lecture include the NASA Astrobiology Institute at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., and Lockheed Martin Corporation, Sunnyvale. Calif. This is the last in a series of Ames-hosted public lectures centered on the concept of evolution. In honor of the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of "On the Origin of Species," Ames is looking at the evolution of science and technology, particularly as it contributes to the NASA mission.

For more information, visit: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI extends its congratulations to Beth Shapiro, member of NAI's Pennsylvania State University team. Beth, Shaffer Career Development Assistant Professor of Biology at Penn State, has been selected as a MacArthur Fellow by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. According to the foundation, the prestigious award is given to talented individuals, in a variety of fields, who have shown exceptional creativity, originality, dedication to their creative pursuits, and potential to make important contributions in the future. For more information: http://live.psu.edu/story/41679 [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jack W. Szostak, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, is among a group of three researchers who have been awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Szostak, who shares this year's prestigious scientific award with Elizabeth H. Blackburn of the University of California, San Francisco, and Carol W. Greider of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, is also a principal investigator with NASA's Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology Program and a member of the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The award was presented by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on October 5th, and was given to the group "for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase." According to the Royal Swedish Academy, this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to these three scientists for solving a major problem in biology: how chromosomes can be copied in a complete way during cell divisions and how they are protected against degradation. For more information: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2009/ [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tune into the latest from Omega Tau, a wide-reaching podcast series from Stuttgart, Germany, for an interview with NAI's Director Carl Pilcher as he talks about NAI, astrobiology, and the search for life elsewhere in the universe. For more information: http://omegataupodcast.net/2009/09/18-astrobiology-at-the-nasa-astrobiology-institute/ [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jack W. Szostak, a principal investigator with NASA's Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology Program and a member of the NASA Astrobiology Insitute, is among a group of three researchers who have been awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine. The award was presented by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on October 5th, and was given to the group "for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase." According to the Royal Swedish Academy, this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to three scientists for solving a major problem in biology: how chromosomes can be copied in a complete way during cell divisions and how they are protected against degradation. [source: NAI]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The deadline for proposing Session Topics to AbSciCon 2010 has been extended until September 30. The organizing committee is soliciting community input for session topics. Suggestions will be reviewed by the organizing committee, and the approved list of session topics will appear in the second announcement along with the call for abstracts. The announcement of Session Topics, along with instruction for submitting abstracts, will be online by October 14. The Abstract deadline remains December 1. For more information: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2010/abscicon2010.topics.shtml Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI has selected three new postdoctoral fellows, Siobhan Wilson, Sanchaya Gupta, and Nancy Akerman as they join NAI teams through the NASA Postdoctoral Program. Nancy Akerman will work with Julie Huber at the Marine Biological Laboratory (Carnegie Insitution of Washington Team), to examine "Habitability in Extreme Environments: Microbial Function and Activity in Deep and Shallow Marine Hydrothermal Systems". Sanchaya (Neal) Gupta will work with both the MIT and CIW teams on the research topic, "Polymeric Biosignatures in Organismic Fossils and Environmental Controls on their Preservation", working with Roger Summons and George Cody. Siobhan (Sasha) Wilson will be working with David Bish at Indiana University, on a project entitled, "Hydrated Sulfate Minerals: a Habitat for Martian Microorganisms?" The next application deadline for the NASA Postdoctoral Program is November 1, 2009. See http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/ for more information. Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Marine Methane Oxidation Without Sulfur

A new study in Science from NAI's Penn State Team shows that the anaerobic oxidation of methane is not solely a sulfate-dependent process. Microbes cultured from marine methane seeps in California's Eel River Basin have demonstrated capability of using manganese and iron to oxidize methane to carbon dioxide. These same compounds may have been key to methane oxidation in the early, oxygen-less days of Earth's atmosphere.

Continue reading "Recently Published Research from the NAI" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear astrobiology community member:

I'm writing to remind you, on behalf of Mary Voytek at NASA Headquarters and myself, that several draft white papers on astrobiology topics have been posted for public comment on the Astrobiology Program website at http://astrobiology.nasa.gov (link in the "Spotlight" box to the upper right).

When finalized later this summer, these white papers will be submitted to the Planetary Science Decadal Survey currently being conducted by the Space Studies Board of the National Research Council. Comments are requested by July 31. Additional papers will be posted as they become available, so please check the site periodically during the rest of July.

Thank you in advance for your help in ensuring that the views of the astrobiology community are well represented in the material submitted to the Survey.
Sincerely,

Carl
Carl B. Pilcher, Director
NASA Astrobiology Institute
NASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, CA 94035

Posted by Keith Cowing at 4:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Date/Time: Monday June 29, 2009 11:00AM Pacific

Presenter: Chris Scholin, Molecular Biologist, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)

Abstract: In late April 2009, a team of MBARI researchers tested the world's only deep-sea robotic DNA lab beneath the waters of Monterey Bay. This instrument is the latest version of the Environmental Sample Processor (ESP), which MBARI molecular biologist Chris Scholin has been developing for over 10 years. The ESP is a self-contained robotic laboratory that collects samples of seawater and tests these samples for different types of genetic material, such as DNA.

Continue reading "NAI Director's Seminar: "Application of the Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) in Deep-sea and Coastal Ocean Biomes"" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI and the American Philosophical Society (APS) jointly sponsor graduate students, postdocs, and junior scientists for field studies through the Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology. For more information see http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/lewis-and-clark

We are very pleased to present the young investigators selected for 2009:

Continue reading "2009 Selections Announced for the NAI/APS Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

by Pier-Luigi Luisi

The 2009 San Sebastian meeting on OQOL was the follow-up to an analogous meeting held in Erice, Sicily three years ago. The general idea was to identify and discuss the areas in the field that are still "in the darkness", i.e. remain poorly understood despite their importance. We asked what were the reasons of our persisting ignorance, and what could we do to shed light on the "dark" areas. The meeting was not organized as a series of standard lectures (the usual "talk-and-run-away" format). Instead, it was centered on several selected questions, one per half-day, which were first discussed by a panel of experts and then by all participants. The questions had been previously chosen through worldwide polling of researchers in the field. It was a very intense meeting - in four days we covered eight questions.

Continue reading "Impressions from the San Sebastian meeting Open Questions in the Origin of Life (OQOL)" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By Michael Wilson

The NAI held a strategic science initiative workshop in Tempe, AZ on May 13-15, to identify areas where increased collaboration between the funded NAI teams could lead to greater scientific insights and productivity. One of the initiative areas focused on origins of life research; the origins initiative was chaired by George Cody (Carnegie team) and John Peters (Montana State team) and Stephen Freeland (University of Hawaii team).By Michael Wilson

The NAI held a strategic science initiative workshop in Tempe, AZ on May 13-15, to identify areas where increased collaboration between the funded NAI teams could lead to greater scientific insights and productivity. One of the initiative areas focused on origins of life research; the origins initiative was chaired by George Cody (Carnegie team) and John Peters (Montana State team) and Stephen Freeland (University of Hawaii team).

Continue reading "Strategic Science Initiatives in the Origins of Life Report from the NAI meeting" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Starting this past February 23rd, 2009, each of the NAI teams have been presenting one hour overview seminars that describe the work they will be conducting as members of the NAI. These seminars, which are broadcast via videoconference and web, provide an opportunity to find out more about the science, EPO and other activities being performed by the NAI teams. These seminars take place at 11am Pacific time. A seminar has been added for April 29th which will be presented by NAI Central.

Monday, April 13: Vikki Meadows, VPL at University of Washington
Wednesday, April 15: Mike Mumma, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Monday, April 20: Roger Summons, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Wednesday, April 22: Karen Meech, University of Hawaii
Monday, April 27: Doug Whittet, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Wednesday, April 29th: NAI Central

For more information about these seminars, podcasts of previous seminars and participation information, please visit http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/seminars/

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NNH09ZDA001N, entitled "Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences - 2009 (ROSES-2009)," was released on February 13, 2009. This NASA Research Announcement (NRA) solicits proposals for supporting basic and applied research and technology across a broad range of Earth and space science program elements relevant to one or more of the following NASA Research Programs: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. More information can be found by opening the NASA Research Opportunities homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ and then linking through the menu listings "Solicitations" to "Open Solicitations."

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Starting on February 23rd, 2009, each of the NAI teams began giving one hour overview seminars that describe the work they will be performing as members of the NAI. These seminars, which are broadcast via videoconference and web, provide an opportunity to find out more about the science, EPO and other activities being performed by the NAI teams. These seminars take place at 11am Pacific time. The schedule of the remaining talks follow.

Monday, March 9: Isik Kanik, NASA JPL - Icy Worlds
Wednesday, March 11: Mark Allen, NASA JPL - Titan
Monday, March 16: Ariel Anbar, Arizona State University
Wednesday, March 18: Clark Johnson, University of Wisconsin
Monday, March 30: John Peters, Montana State University
Wednesday, April 1: Loren Williams, Georgia Institute of Technology
Monday, April 6: Chris House, Penn State University
Wednesday, April 8: Doug Whittet, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Monday, April 13: Vikki Meadows, VPL at University of Washington
Wednesday, April 15: Mike Mumma, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Monday, April 20: Roger Summons, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Wednesday, April 22: Karen Meech, University of Hawaii

For more information about these seminars, podcasts of previous seminars and participation information, please visit http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/seminars/

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

n November 26, 2008, volunteers in programs within the NASA Nationwide Consortium participated in a two-hour, introductory training telecon covering the basic principles of astrobiology, sponsored by NAI's WISC team and JPL. The Consortium includes many of NASA's volunteer-based organizations such as the Solar System Ambassadors, the Night Sky Network, the Aerospace Education Services Project, the Explorer Schools, and the Educator Astronauts. These volunteers reach many thousands of teachers, students, and public audiences every year in assemblies and other presentations.

Continue reading "Astrobiology 101 for NASA Nationwide Consortium Members" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program provides opportunities for Ph.D. scientists and engineers of unusual promise and ability to perform research on problems largely of their own choosing, yet compatible with the research interests of NASA and the member teams of the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The next award cycle that the NAI will be participating in will be the March 1, 2009 application deadline. For additional information about the program see http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc .

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Please join NAI in congratulating Jim Elser of the new Arizona State University (ASU) Team on his election as Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He and the other newly elected fellows will be recognized Feb. 14 at the Fellows forum, during the 2009 AAAS annual meeting in Chicago.

Continue reading "NAI Scientist Elected AAAS Fellow" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Starting on February 23rd, 2009, each of the NAI teams will be giving one hour overview seminars that describe the work they will be performing as members of the NAI. These seminars, which will be broadcast via videoconference and web, will provide an opportunity to find out more about the science, EPO and other activities being performed by the NAI teams. These seminars will take place at 11am Pacific time. The schedule of the talks follows:

Continue reading "NAI Team Overview Seminars to begin February 23rd" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

At the January NAI Executive Council meeting, each of NAI's Principal Investigators delivered presentations outlining the science of their teams. Those presentations are now available as downloadable podcasts from the NAI website. For more information and to download the podcasts, visit http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/executive-council/january-2009-ec-agenda

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) is accepting proposals to the 2009 NAI Director's Discretionary Fund (DDF). Proposals will be accepted at any time until June 15, 2009. Proposals submitted after that date will be considered for funding as part of the NAI 2010 DDF. For more information: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/ddf-2009

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Applications are invited for an Origins Institute (OI) Astrobiology Postdoctoral Fellowship to commence on, or after Sept. 1, 2009 for an initial period of 2 years, with the possibility of renewal for a third year. The OI is involved in a wide range of astrobiological research including several major national and international collaborative efforts (see our website http://origins.mcmaster.ca/ ). Funds will also be available to cover travel and research expenses.

Areas of interest include: the formation and delivery of biomolecules to terrestrial planets; the formation, physical properties, and characterization of SuperEarths and terrestrial exoplanets; phylogenetics and prebiotic conditions related to the RNA world and the evolution of the earliest organisms; microbiology in extreme environments on Earth including polar microbiology and microbial energetics in extreme environments; and the interpretation of biosignatures as the basis of understanding early life on Earth and as the foundation for the search for life on Mars. OI researchers are working at several Mars analogue sites and are associated with solar system exploration for signatures of microbial life. The OI has a strong complement of faculty members in a number of related fields and the OI Astrobiology Postdoctoral Fellow will have many opportunities to collaborate with OI faculty and OI collaborative research programs.

Continue reading "Origins Institute, McMaster University: Astrobiology Postdoctoral Fellowship" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The next Astrobiology Graduate Student Conference (AbGradCon) will be held July 17 - 20 2009 at the University of Washington in Seattle. The primary objective of AbGradCon is to improve the future of astrobiology research by bringing together in a unique setting the early-career astrobiologists (graduate students and post-doctoral fellows within 2 years of finishing their Ph.D.) who will lead such research in the years to come. The conference is unique in that it is a student-led meeting, from the organization to the presentations. AbGradCon strives to remove the "pressures" of typical scientific meetings by providing a relaxed atmosphere in which presentations and round-table discussions are fostered along with numerous social activities. AbGradCon will also be hosted in the virtual world of Second Life at the NASA CoLab Sun Amphitheater.

For more information: http://tinyurl.com/abgradcon09

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Astrobiology Careers page is a compilation of career opportunities available to astrobiologists. It is available at http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/careers/ If you would like to add an opportunity to this page, please email Estelle Dodson at Estelle.Dodson@nasa.gov

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In January, NAI will welcome ten new teams, one of which is based at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. A gala event was held at RPI to launch their New York Center for Astrobiology, led by RPI Professor Doug Whittet. The opening ceremonies were highlighted by Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer and professor of physics, and Paul Tonko, United States Congressman-Elect of New York.

Continue reading "New NAI Team at RPI Launches New York Center for Astrobiology" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The pilot-test of an NAI-supported curriculum entitled Astrobiology: An Integrated Science Approach will help kick-off the State of Maine's new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Initiative. This initiative is the subject of a press conference to be given by Maine's Governor, The Honorable John E. Baldacci, on November 17th.

The curriculum was developed with significant input from the NAI Ames Team led by Dave Des Marais, who will speak at the press conference. Much of the team's research in astrobiology is captured in the curriculum.

Continue reading "Astrobiology Curriculum Pilot To Kick-Off Maine STEM Initiative" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A new collaboration between NAI and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) enabled the production of a special astrobiology-themed event at this year's NABT 2008 Professional Development Conference, held in Memphis, TN, October 15-18th. ASM's K-12 Committee Chair graciously invited NAI to join them in making astrobiology the theme of the day-long event that ASM hosts at NABT each year. E/PO Leads from NAI's MBL and IPTAI teams, in collaboration with exobiology researcher Brad Bebout from NASA Ames, joined several astrobiologists from ASM's ranks in sharing lectures and classroom materials about microbial life in extreme environments. NABT supported the event by advertising it in their newsletter and highlighting it in the conference program.

Continue reading "NAI Teams with ASM to Share Astrobiology at National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) Conference" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI-MIRS Program provides opportunities for researchers from qualified minority institutions to initiate joint partnerships with NAI researchers in the field of astrobiology. The NAI-MIRS program provides summer sabbaticals, follow-up support, and travel opportunities for faculty and students from minority institutions. The application deadline for summer 2009 is March 16. For more information, visit http://www.nai-mirs.org.

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dina Bower: Advisor: Andrew Steele, Carnegie Institution of Washington, NAI CIW Team Topic: Experimental Investigations on the Effects of Diagenesis on the Formation of Fe,Ti-oxides (Pseudorutile) in Microfossils: Using Minerals as Biosignatures in Ancient Rocks

Mark Claire: Advisor: Jim Kasting, Pennsylvania State University and NAI VPL Team
Topic: Biogenic Sulfur - From Biospheres to Biosignatures

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI supports postdoctoral fellows hosted at NAI teams through the NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP). The NPP provides talented postdoctoral scientists and engineers with valuable opportunities to engage in ongoing NASA research programs and serves as a source of talent to ensure the continued quality of the NASA research workforce. The deadline for the next round of applications is November 1. For more information on the program, please see http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/nai-postdoctoral-fellowship-program/ and http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc .

As a reminder, all current NAI advisors, from CAN 3 and CAN 4 teams, are eligible as advisors to host postdoctoral fellows.

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA has awarded five-year grants, averaging $7 million each, to 10 research teams from across the country to study the origins, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe.

The interdisciplinary teams will become new members of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, located at NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif. Teams from the University of Hawaii in Honolulu; Arizona State University in Tempe; the Carnegie Institution of Washington; Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pa.; the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta; and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., have been selected as members. Teams from Ames, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and two teams led by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., also have been selected.

Continue reading "NASA Selects Science Teams for Astrobiology Institute" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 6:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Date/Time: Monday, September 29, 2008 11:00AM Pacific
Speaker: Norm Sleep, Stanford University

Abstract: Silicate super-earths are rocky planets with masses up to ~10 that of the Earth. They are of astrobiological interest because they are relatively easy to detect around other stars. Tectonics enhances habitability on the Earth by exhuming biologically important elements. Plate tectonics are too poorly understood on the Earth to tell whether this process should occur on larger planets. Still the Gauss' law relationship that surface heat flow scales with surface gravity provides some insight and yields that the geotherm expressed in terms of pressure is to the first order invariant to planetary size.

Continue reading "NAI Director's Seminar: Norm Sleep, "Habitability of Superearths"" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 5:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NASA Astrobiology Institute is pleased to announce the selection of 18 proposals for support through the 2008 NAI Director's Discretionary Fund. These awards allocate more than $1.4M toward strategic investments that advance the science of astrobiology, demonstrate impact to NASA's space flight programs or its broader science activities, and/or contribute to NASA's role as a federal R&D agency. The members of the Institute, in collaboration with members of the larger astrobiology community, responded to this year's DDF Call for Proposals with a bold, interdisciplinary, and focused set of proposals.

Continue reading "NAI Announces 2008 Director's Discretionary Fund Awards" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 4:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"The CheMin mineralogical instrument on the MSL mission and the field-portable TERRA version available for NAI field campaigns"

Speaker: David Blake
Date/Time: Monday, June 30, 2008 11:00AM Pacific

Abstract: Dr. Blake will describe the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) '09 mission and its CheMin XRD/XRF instrument. A terrestrial field-deployable version of CheMin (called "TERRA") will be available to perform in situ analyses during NAI field campaigns. The TERRA instrument has already been proven to be invaluable on field expeditions to Spitsbergen (Norway), the dry valleys of Antarctica, Canada (twice), and Rio Tinto (Spain).

Continue reading "NAI Director's Seminar" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Researchers from NAI's Marine Biological Laboratory Team continue their study of the deep biosphere, reporting the latest results in Nature. This new study reveals that bacterial communities dwelling on ocean-bottom rocks are more abundant and diverse than previously thought, especially relative to the overlying water column. The microbes appear to ?feed? on the oceanic crust through seawater-rock alteration reactions involving the oxidation and hydration of glassy basalt. [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI congratulates the faculty sabbatical awardees for the NAI MIRS program for 2008. They are:

Dr. Prabhakar Misra, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Howard University, who will be working with Dr. Paul Mahafft at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, on a project entitled "Spectroscopy and Analytical Protocols for Organic Molecules of Relevance to the Origin of Life on Mars and Earth."

Dr. Erik Melchiorre, Associate Professor of Geology, California State University, San Bernardino, who will work with Drs. Karen Meech, Mike Mottl and Jim Cowen at the University of Hawaii, at Manoa. His study is entitled, "Planetary Habitability and the Origins of Life: Evaluation of Mineralogical Evidence for Extremophile Colonization within Terrestrial Subduction Zones. "

For more information about the NAI MIRS program see http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/nai-minority-institution-research-support [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Do you Tweet? If so, then you'll be happy to know that you can now follow an @AstrobiologyNAI Twitter stream. If you don't have any idea what the first two sentences in this article are about, keep reading! They refer to a micro-blogging tool called "Twitter," an increasingly popular, instant-messaging service that is quickly becoming the place where news breaks first, outpacing mainstream media.

Continue reading "NAI Twitters and Tweets" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NASA Astrobiology Institute is now Twittering at AstrobiologyNAI

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wandering Poles on Europa

A new study in the May 15th issue of Nature from NAI’s Carnegie Institution of Washington Team reveals that Europa’s poles may not have always been located in the same place. Using images from three NASA spacecraft, Voyager, Galileo, and New Horizons, the study mapped surface features on Europa and matched them with a pattern predicted if Europa had experienced an episode of ~80 degree true polar wander. This movement of the pole and subsequent change in rotation axis is only possible if Europa’s outer shell is decoupled from the core by a liquid layer, so the study also reinforces evidence for the presence of an ocean on Europa.

Continue reading "Recently Published Research from the NAI" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The new integrated website for NASA's Astrobiology Program was launched on Friday, March 21: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/. The link to the NAI website remains the same: http://nai.nasa.gov and its contents have been redesigned and integrated with the program site. NAI Central staff worked with Astrobiology Program Communications Coordinator, Linda Billings, to design and implement the new website. We're pleased that NAI Central has been able to make this contribution to the Astrobiology Program and the community. We invite you to take a look at the new site and send us your comments, using the page feedback boxes online. [Source NAI newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Full report

Executive Summary

Astrobiology is a scientific discipline devoted to the study of life in the universe--its origins, evolution, distribution, and future. It brings together the physical and biological sciences to address some of the most fundamental questions of the natural world: How do living systems emerge? How do habitable worlds form and how do they evolve? Does life exist on worlds other than Earth?

Continue reading "NASA SSB Report: Assessment of the NASA Astrobiology Institute" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI has released a Request for Information entitled "Collaborative Technology Tools and Methods For Distributed Interdisciplinary Science." For more information, see: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/articles/nai-request-for-information/ [Source: NAI newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI announces that it is now accepting proposals for the 2008 Director's Discretionary Fund. Proposals will be accepted through June 1, 2008 and selections will be made by July 1, 2008.

For more information: http://nai.nasa.gov/ddf_2008/

Posted by Keith Cowing at 6:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI is very pleased to announce the selection of three NAI Fellows, who will receive awards through the NASA Postdoctoral Program.

The three Fellows are:

Daiki Horikawa, Advisor: Lynn Rothschild, NAI's SETI Institute Team, Tolerance of tardigrades to extremes: Implications for the existence of multicellular organisms in extraterrestrial environments.

Olivia Mason, Advisor: Jim Cowen, NAI's University of Hawaii Team, Phylogenetic and functional diversity of microorganisms associated with crustal fluids

Steven Mielke, Advisor Nancy Kiang, NAI's VPL - University of Washington Team, Molecular-Environmental Limits of Terrestrial Photosynthesis: Implications for Extrasolar Biosignatures

We welcome the new Fellows to the NAI.

The deadline for the next NAI opportunity for NPP Fellowships is July 1, 2008. For additional information about the program see http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc .

Posted by Keith Cowing at 6:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI announces, through the release of this Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN), an opportunity for the submission of team-based proposals for membership in the Institute. Proposals should clearly articulate an innovative, interdisciplinary, astrobiology research program, together with plans to advance the full scope of NAI objectives as defined in the Institute's Mission Statement.

Continue reading "NAI Cooperative Agreement Notice (Cycle-5) Notices of Intent Due February 22nd" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following new papers have been published recently by NAI members. These and other recent NAI funded research are presented on the NAI website and collected in the NAI Research Highlights Archive - http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/research/. In this archive, you can link to the papers and any press materials that may have been generated about them.

Continue reading "Recently Published Research from the NAI" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Application Deadline - March 7, 2008

The NAI-MIRS Program provides opportunities for researchers from qualified minority institutions to initiate joint partnerships with researchers in the field of astrobiology. The NAI-MIRS program provides summer sabbaticals, follow-up support, and travel opportunities for faculty and students from minority institutions. The application deadline for summer 2008 is March 7th. For more information, visit http://www.nai-mirs.org. [Source: NAI newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI is pleased to sponsor travel scholarships for four graduate students (senior level) or postdoctoral fellows (with less than two years of postdoctoral training) to attend the Third International Polar and Alpine Microbiology Conference, to be held in Banff, Alberta, Canada, May 11-15, 2008. See the conference website for more details: http://www.polaralpinemicrobiology.com/. Each award will provide up to $2000 to defray the cost of economy airfare from US or Canadian cities and local travel, registration and up to four nights lodging at the workshop venue (shared room, if at all possible). Travel funds will be awarded on a competitive basis.

Continue reading "NAI Travel Scholarships Available for the International Conference on Polar and Alpine Microbiology" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Application Deadline - February 15, 2008

The Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology, a partnership between NAI and the American Philosophical Society (APS), is now accepting applications for astrobiological field studies for 2008. Graduate students, postdoctoral students, and junior scientists and scholars are eligible to apply for travel and related expenses, up to $5000. For more information, please see http://www.amphilsoc.org/grants/astrobiology.htm

[Source: NAI newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Join us for the next NAI Director's Seminar on Monday, February 4th at 11am PST. The seminar, "The Effect of Protoplanetary Disk Dispersal on Planet Formation," will be given by David Hollenbach of NASA Ames Research Center. For information on how to join the seminar, go to: http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/seminars/seminar_detail.cfm?ID=117.

Continue reading "NAI Director's Seminar: The Effect of Protoplanetary Disk Dispersal on Planet Formation" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI announces, through the release of this Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN), an opportunity for the submission of team-based proposals for membership in the Institute. Proposals should clearly articulate an innovative, interdisciplinary, astrobiology research program, together with plans to advance the full scope of NAI objectives as defined in the Institute's Mission Statement. The Cooperative Agreement Notice can be accessed at: http://nspires.nasaprs.com

CAN Release Date: January 8, 2008 Notices of Intent Due: February 22, 2008

Proposals Due: April 11, 2008

[Source: NAI newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On January 8, 2008, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is releasing a Cooperative Agreement Notice (NNH08ZDA002C) soliciting new institutional members to the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI).

Continue reading "Proposal opportunity: NASA Astrobiology Institute" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA intends to release a Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN, Cycle-5) soliciting new institutional members to the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI). The CAN will be released early in 2008, and proposals will be due approximately 90 days later. NAI CAN Cycle-5 is responsive to the recommendations of the recent NRC study (Assessment of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, 2007, http://www7.nationalacademies.org/ssb/).

Continue reading "NASA to Release Cooperative Agreement Notice for Membership in the NASA Astrobiology Institute" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Committee on the Review of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, National Research Council

Full report

Executive Summary: Astrobiology is a scientific discipline devoted to the study of life in the universe--its origin, evolution, distribution, and future. It brings together the physical and biological sciences to address some of the most fundamental questions of the natural world: How do living systems emerge? How do habitable worlds form and how do they evolve? Does life exist on worlds other than Earth? The tremendous breadth and depth of this endeavor requires interdisciplinary investigation in order to be fully appreciated and examined.

Continue reading "NRC Report: Assessment of the NASA Astrobiology Institute" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA intends to release a Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN, Cycle-5) soliciting new institutional members to the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI). The CAN will be released early in 2008, and proposals will be due approximately 90 days later.

Continue reading "NASA to Release Cooperative Agreement Notice for Membership in the NASA Astrobiology Institute" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Speaker: Geoff Marcy (University of California, Berkeley)
Date/Time: Monday, December 3, 2007 11:00 AM PST

The measured masses and orbits of the 200 secure exoplanets within 200 parsecs reveal the processes of formation and subsequent dynamics. (One parsec is the distance at which one astronomical unit subtends an angle of 1 second of arc.) Several planets reveal information on their cores and interiors. Multiple-planet systems, especially those in resonances, inform us about migration, scattering, and capture. Planets from 5-14 Earth masses are now detectable, and several have been found. The Kepler Mission and a new 2.4-m "Automated Planet Finder" telescope at Lick Observatory portend the detection of rocky planets.

For more information and connection information: http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/seminars/seminar_detail.cfm?ID=114

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NAI Central is pleased to announce the news that its recent proposal to the NASA Science Mission Directorate E/PO Program entitled "NASA and the Navajo Nation 2: The Moon" has been selected for funding. This award will enable the continued collaboration with leaders and educators from the Navajo Nation toward the production of educational materials which bring together astrobiology science and Navajo cultural knowledge, in particular of the Moon. For more information, please contact Daniella Scalice, daniella.m.scalice@nasa.gov.

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Speaker: Ariel Anbar (Arizona State University)
Date/Time: Monday, November 5, 2007 11:00 AM PST

Abstract: Many lines of evidence point to a rapid rise of atmospheric O2 between 2.45 - 2.22 billion years ago (Ga), a transition often referred to as the Great Oxidation Event (GOE). The cause of the GOE is unknown. It could have been an immediate consequence of the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis. Alternatively, O2 biogenesis may be ancient and the GOE a consequence of an abiotic shift in the balance of oxidants and reductants at the Earth's surface that crossed a critical threshold at that time. In the latter case, oxygenic photosynthesis could have evolved long before the GOE. This debate can be addressed by looking for evidence of localized or short-lived concentrations of O2 before 2.45 Ga.

Continue reading "NAI Director's Seminar: "A Whiff of Oxygen before the Great Oxidation Event"" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The organizers of the 2008 Astrobiology Science Conference are pleased to announce that the deadline for abstract submission has been extended!

The revised deadline for submission of abstracts is December 3, 2007.

Abstracts should be submitted via the conference website (http://abscicon.seti.org), where a complete list of topical sessions can also be found.

Questions regarding submission of abstracts can be addressed to abstracts@seti.org.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Even though the NAI doesn't operate on an academic year calendar, I can't help but feel that we are starting a "new year" this month. It's not just that I became Director on Sept. 17, 2006, exactly a year ago, but also that one of NAI's most important milestones, presenting our programs to the National Research Council (NRC) committee reviewing the Institute, was completed just before the Labor Day weekend.

Continue reading "NASA Astrobiology Institute Director's Corner" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI Minority Institution Research Support Program is pleased to announce the selection of LeeAnne Martinez, an Associate Professor of Biology at Colorado State University - Pueblo, a Hispanic Serving Institution. Dr. Martinez plans to begin a genomic analysis of open water diatoms in the laboratory of Jim Lake, of the NAI UCLA team, to explore horizontal transfer of operational genes that may lead to the incorporation of endosymbionts by diatoms. LeeAnne's background includes nitrogen-fixation in diatom mats and this work will support current research at Colorado State-Pueblo. [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Maggie Turnbull, a 2004 NAI Postdoctoral Fellow and now an astrobiologist at the Space Telescope Science Institute, was recently named a "Genius" by CNN for her work cataloging stars most likely to develop planets that could support life and intelligent civilizations. Congratulations Maggie!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/07/13/genius.scientists/ [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

An international team of researchers including members of NAI's Virtual Planetary Laboratory Team have, using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, detected the presence of water vapor on the hot jupiter HD 189733b. Published in Nature, the study's primary author, Giovanna Tinetti, was a 2003 NAI Postdoctoral Fellow. [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following new papers have been published recently by NAI members. These and other recent NAI funded research are presented on the NAI member portal and collected in the NAI Research Highlights Archive – http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/research/. In this archive, you can link to the papers and any press materials that may have been generated about them.

Continue reading "Recently Published Research from the NAI" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Science Steering Committee of the 2008 Astrobiology Science Conference (April 15-17, Santa Clara, California, USA) invites proposals for sessions related to the major scientific themes: "The Astronomical and Planetary Context for Life", "The Origin and Evolution of Life", and "The Search for Life in our Solar System and Beyond".

Continue reading "Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) 2008 Call for Session Topic Proposals" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 5:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI has been called upon to use its expertise in managing a complex, distributed research organization to lead the development of a new web presence for NASA's Astrobiology Program.

Continue reading "NAI Embarks on New Astrobiology Program Website" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NAI is offering ten full-funded scholarships for students who wish to attend the 2007 International Summer School in Astrobiology, Santander, Spain, July 2-6. The topic for this year's school is "Mars Exploration: The next ten years." The summer schools are co-sponsored by the Spanish Centro de Astrobiologia and the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The application deadline is May 31. For more information, please see: http://nai.nasa.gov/UIMP/MarsExpl [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI Minority Institution Research Support (MIRS) Program is pleased to announce the selection of two faculty sabbatical research awards to Abel Mendez, from the University of Puerto Rico, Arecibo, and to Don Walter from South Carolina State University. The NAI-MIRS program, which is funded by the NAI, provides opportunities for researchers, from qualified minority serving institutions, to initiate joint partnerships with researchers in the field of astrobiology.

Continue reading "NAI Announces Two MIRS Sabbatical Awards" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NASA Astrobiology Institute is pleased to announce the selection of four new research teams to join the twelve current teams comprising the Institute. The new teams will be led from Montana State University in Bozeman, the University of Wisconsin in Madison, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, and the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

Continue reading "NAI Announces Selection of New Teams" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following new papers have been published recently by NAI members. These and other recent NAI funded research are presented on the NAI member portal and collected in the NAI Research Highlights Archive - http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/research/. In this archive, you can link to the papers and any press materials that may have been generated about them.

If you have an upcoming or recent publication, please tell us about it as soon as possible. We will work with your institution to produce press releases, publicize the paper on the NAI website, and pre-populate your team's annual report with your publication. Please send any information to Daniella Scalice dscalice@mail.arc.nasa.gov [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tullis Onstott of NAI's Indiana-Princeton-Tennessee team was recently named to this year's "Time 100," an annual list of "the 100 men and women whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world," according to list-maker Time magazine. Onstott, a professor of geomicrobiology in the Department of Geosciences at Princeton University, investigates the physical and chemical limitations on subsurface Earth life, toward developing subsurface life detection strategies for Mars.

Continue reading "NAI Scientists Receive High Honors" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA Selects New Members of Astrobiology Institute

"NASA is awarding five-year grants to four research teams that will become new members of the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI). The new multidisciplinary teams are led by the University of Wisconsin, Madison; the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena; Montana State University, Bozeman; and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge. For the first 18 months of research, teams will receive $350,000 in funding. The five-year average grant size is approximately $7 million per team."

Posted by Keith Cowing at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NASA Astrobiology Institute is pleased to announce the selection of 18 proposals for support through the 2007 NAI Director's Discretionary Fund. These awards allocate more than $1.7M toward strategic investments that advance the science of astrobiology, demonstrate impact to NASA's space flight programs or its broader science activities, and/or contribute to NASA's role as a federal R&D agency. The members of the Institute, in collaboration with members of the larger astrobiology community, responded to this year's DDF Call for Proposals with a bold, interdisciplinary, and focused set of proposals.

Continue reading "NAI Announces 2007 Director's Discretionary Fund Awards" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Margaret Tolbert from NAI's University of Colorado, Boulder Team, is receiving the 2007 UC-Boulder Hazel Barnes Prize. This prize is the University's most prestigious faculty award. Tolbert has earned it, UC-Boulder has announced, "for her contributions to understanding the chemistry and climate of planetary atmospheres, including past and present," and "for her teaching and research efforts with undergraduates and graduate students, 15 of whom have won prestigious NASA and Environmental Protection Agency fellowships in recent years." http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2007/129.html Congratulations Margaret! [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following new papers have been published recently by NAI members. These and other recent NAI funded research are presented on the NAI member portal and collected in the NAI Research Highlights Archive – http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/research/. In this archive, you can link to the papers and any press materials that may have been generated about them. If you have an upcoming or recent publication, please tell us about it as soon as possible. We will work with your institution to produce press releases, publicize the paper on the NAI website, and pre-populate your team's annual report with your publication. Please send any information to Daniella Scalice dscalice@mail.arc.nasa.gov [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One of the most satisfying aspects of astrobiology is the quality of the students and young researchers it attracts. I am particularly gratified by the quality of a recent applicant pool to the NAI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (a part of the NASA Postdoctoral Program administered by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities) and the individuals we were able to select. I'd like to tell you a little about them.

Continue reading "NASA Astrobiology Institute Director's Corner" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On February 16th, NAI scientists were featured in a live broadcast of NPR's Science Friday. Tune in to the podcast to hear how astrobiologists are following the water and the energy, trying to target those parts of the planet most likely to harbor life. Plus, learn how the rovers Spirit and Opportunity have changed our ideas about the Martian environment, and what evidence future missions will look for. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7453410 [source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following new papers have been published recently by NAI members. These and other recent NAI funded research are presented on the NAI member portal and collected in the NAI Research Highlights Archive - http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/research/. In this archive, you can link to the papers and any press materials that may have been generated about them.

Continue reading "Recently Published Research from the NAI" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI Minority Institution Research Support (MIRS) Program provides opportunities for researchers from qualified Minority Institutions to initiate joint partnerships with researchers in the field of astrobiology. The NAI-MIRS program provides summer sabbaticals, follow-up support, and travel opportunities for faculty and students from Minority Institutions.

Continue reading "NAI Minority Institution Research Support Program Application Deadline - April 2nd" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program provides opportunities for Ph.D. scientists and engineers of unique promise and ability to perform research on problems largely of their own choosing, yet compatible with the research interests of NASA and the member teams of the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The next award cycle in which the NAI will participate has a March 1, 2007 application deadline. For additional information about the program see http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc . [Source: Astrobiology Institute Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Please join me in welcoming John Evans as a new member of the NAI Central staff. John is taking over the reins from NAI Resource Analyst, Kaye Faria, who retired this month. Kaye has been at the Institute from its earliest days; we appreciate all of her contributions, and wish her well in her new adventures.

Continue reading "Message from the NAI Director: John Evans Joins NAI Central Staff, as Kaye Faria Retires" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology, a partnership between NAI and the American Philosophical Society (APS), is open to field studies in any area of interest to astrobiology. Grants may be used for travel and related expenses, including field equipment, up to $5,000. Applications will be reviewed by a committee that includes members of the NAI, the APS, and the wider science community as needed.

Continue reading "NAI Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology Application Deadline - March 15th" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bruce Jakosky, PI of NAI's University of Colorado, Boulder Team, has been selected to develop his Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, or MAVEN, mission proposal. His was one of just two proposals selected for future robotic missions to Mars.

Continue reading "NAI Principal Investigator Named in Mars Scout Selections" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Please join me in welcoming Wendy Dolci back to the NAI as our Associate Director for Operations. From 2000-2004, Wendy served as the NAI Operations Manager and then Assistant Director, and played a lead role, during the Institute's formative years, in developing its processes and working methods as a virtual organization. She is very happy to be working once again with the NAI science community and the NAI Central team at Ames.

Continue reading "Message from the NAI Director: Wendy Dolci Selected as NAI Associate Director for Operations" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI has awarded $4000 to support student participation in "Changes in Ocean and Atmospheric redox state and the evolution of life" session of the 2006 GSA Annual Meeting.

Continue reading "NAI Student Travel Funds Available for 2006 GSA Annual Meeting" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's that time again for NAI's Annual Report. Annual report entries are collected by team and published on the NAI webpage in the "team" section. Reports include science projects, team members, and publications, as well as Education and Public Outreach, Focus Group activities, and other special projects.

Continue reading "Reminder: NAI Annual Report submissions due 7/28/2006" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Join NAI for the Polycom and WebEx broadcast of the second annual Summer Student Seminar Series. The talks will be given on Friday, July 28th and Friday August 11th at 12:00pm PDT (9:00am HT/1:00pm MDT/2:00pm CDT/3:00pm EDT.)

Continue reading "Second Annual Summer Student Seminar Series Begins July 28" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In October, 2005, NAI began an innovative, pilot project focused on creating educational materials that weave together NASA science and Navajo cultural teachings. To mark the end of the project and the beginning of new collaborations, NAI is hosting a "Sustainability Seminar" in Window Rock, Arizona - the seat of the Navajo Nation - on August 10-11, 2006.

Continue reading "NAI Hosts "NASA and the Navajo Nation" Sustainability Seminar August 10-11" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NAI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Accepting Applications: Deadline August 1
A reminder applications are now being accepted for the August 1 cycle of the NAI Postdoctoral Program, administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU).

Continue reading "Astrobiology EPO, Undergrads, Grads, Postdocs" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)