Federation of Astrobiology Organization

**Telecon/Meeting Notes**

**August 18, 2004**

  --- -------------------------------- --- --------------------------------
  X   R. Grymes                        X   J. Perez-Mercader

  X   A. Brack                             F. Raulin

      H. Edwards                       X   N. Holm

  X   M. Walter (later that day)           A. Lazcano

      C. Cockell                           
  --- -------------------------------- --- --------------------------------

# Agenda: 

-   **FAO Participant Vote --**

    -   Agreed - Include the following organizations with representative
        to the FAO:

        -   Bioastronomy -- Representative Karen Meech

        -   Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) -- Representative
            George Cody

    -   Agreed that the FAO would continue to actively keep in touch
        with the developing graduate student organizations and ask for
        their input for continuing issues.

    -   With this addition, the following astrobiology meetings are now
        represented in the FAO:

        -   EANA -- A. Brack

        -   COSPAR -- F. Raulin

        -   Bioastronomy -- K. Meech

        -   AbSciCon -- G. Cody

        -   ISSOL -- A. Lazcano

        -   NAI General Meetings -- R. Grymes

-   **FAO Mission Statement**

    -   The revised mission statement was sent by R. Grymes to the FAO
        for comment. All present agree with the revised FAO Mission
        Statement

-   **FAO Meeting to Initiate Astrobiology Meeting Accord (MIAsMA) -
    September 2, 2004**

    -   Attendees R. Grymes, A. Lazcano, K. Meech. Lynn Rothschild
        invited to attend as a representative for AbSciCon.

        -   R. Grymes and A. Brack will invite Alan Penny to attend the
            meeting as the EANA representative

    -   Meeting hosted at UCLA by Bill Schopf

        -   B. Schopf is a member of the NAI UCLA team and graciously
            offered logistical help only.

    -   Purpose of meeting is to address a 5-year plan that addresses
        how the represented science conferences in the FAO can:

        -   Recognize each other

            -   Note similarities and differences

        -   Share resources

        -   Advocate upward visibility of the field

        -   Coordinate meeting dates

        -   Stimulate the younger generations in astrobiology

            -   Younger astrobiologist find there are not many jogs in
                the field -- How to address this at meetings?

            -   A. Brack offered to write suggestions for solutions that
                would address different astrobiology meetings and
                various audiences. Will send a draft version to R.
                Grymes and cc FAO members by the September 2 in person
                meeting.

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        -   Advocate astrobiology course development and standardization

            -   1 or 2 keynote lecturers on frontier topics at each
                meeting?

            -   Include lectures or discussion on curriculum
                development?

            -   With limited time at meetings, suggestion of a display
                or flow thru type of interactive display as a
                compromise?

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        -   Ensure the field of astrobiology does not become stagnant

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-   **Agenda Items for September FAO telecon -- Scheduled September 22,
    2004**

    -   Report form the September 2^nd^ meeting

    -   Cration of jobs in astrobiology

    -   Core astrobiology elements

    -   Astrobiology curriculum development

    -   Astrobiology -- younger blood

    -   Other?