March 21, 2006

Jonas Dino
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Phone: (650) 604-5612 or (650) 207-3280
E-mail: jonas.dino@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 06_17AR

NASA CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE

MEDIA ADVISORY: News media representatives are invited to attend the 
Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) 2006 at the Ronald Reagan 
Building and International Trade Center in Washington, March 26-30, 
2006. The conference will feature keynote presentations, expert panel 
discussions, poster sessions, workshops and a debate on the book 
'Life As We Do Not Know It,' by Peter Ward. Former astronaut Harrison 
“Jack” Schmitt will introduce showings of the 3D IMAX movie, 
'Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon.' For registration 
information and interview opportunities, please contact Jonas Dino at 
(650) 207-3280 or Jonas.Dino@nasa.gov. Registration is required for 
attendance.

During a major scientific conference later this month in the nation's 
capitol, NASA is bringing together leading experts in the field of 
astrobiology to discuss the origins, evolution, distribution and 
future of life in the universe. 

"Astrobiology addresses some of the most fundamental questions humans 
have ever posed: How did life begin on Earth? Does it exist elsewhere 
in the universe?" said Carl Pilcher, NASA astrobiology senior 
scientist. "The Astrobiology Science Conference is the largest 
scientific meeting dedicated to reporting progress and results of 
this research."

Sponsored by NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., in 
collaboration with the Carnegie Institution of Washington, 
Geophysical Lab, the Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) 2006 
will be held March 26-30 at the Ronald Reagan Building and 
International Trade Center, Washington.

"NASA's astrobiology program brings together the wide range of 
researchers -- biologists, astrophysicists, chemists, astronomers, 
and Earth and planetary scientists to name a few --that are needed to 
address these profound questions," Pilcher said.

During the five-day conference, AbSciCon 2006 will include a limited 
number of plenary talks that will complement a larger number of oral 
presentations in parallel thematic sessions. The event also will 
include a poster session, a valuable and successful venue to exchange 
scientific ideas. As in the past, students will play an important 
role in the conference. Workshops dedicated to graduate students will 
be held on the first day of the conference and the NASA Astrobiology 
Institute, Moffett Field, Calif., will host a student poster 
competition.

Highlights of the conference include a special lecture by George V. 
Coyne, S.J., of the Vatican Observatory, Castel Gandolfo, Italy, 
discussing the possible role of God in the universe. John Hayes of 
the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Mass., will 
deliver the Harold Klein lecture. Also featured will be a discussion 
by NASA scientist Scott Sandford highlighting the latest developments 
in the Stardust mission; a presentation by former astronaut Harrison 
“Jack” Schmitt about returning to and living on the moon; and a panel 
discussion of the Peter Ward book "Life As We Do Not Know It."

There also will be special evening showings of the 3-D IMAX movie, " 
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon," featuring an 
introduction by Schmitt.

The Carnegie Institution of Washington (www.CarnegieInstitution.org) 
has been a pioneering force in basic scientific research since 1902. 
It is a private, nonprofit organization with six research departments 
throughout the U.S. Carnegie scientists are leaders in plant biology, 
developmental biology, astronomy, materials science, global ecology, 
and Earth and planetary science.

For more information about AbSciCon 2006, visit:

http://abscicon.arc.nasa.gov/

For more information about NASA's astrobiology program, visit:

http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/

and

http://astrobiology.arc.nasa.gov/

For more information about the Carnegie Institution of Washington: 
visit:

http://www.carnegieinstitution.org/

	
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