A related and controversial topic is the issue of whether life can have originated at submarine volcanic systems, on Earth and on planets in general. The conference will bring together the planetary science, oceanography, and exobiology communities to explore these topics. The Galileo spacecraft is now in orbit around Jupiter, and will make multiple flyby examinations of Europa during its mission. Follow-on missions could be flown to Europa that would address the existence of an ocean in detail, and that would explore the ocean if it were found to be present. The conference will address the measurement techniques that could be used on such missions, and their implications for future solar system exploration.
Abstracts are limited to two pages.
The Program Committee will use the abstracts to prepare a program of oral presentations consisting of both invited talks and contributed papers. Other presentations can be poster talks or exhibits. Abstracts will be printed in a booklet to be provided in the registration packet at the conference. These short papers may be expanded later for inclusion in a book or special journal issue. The last session of the conference will be a panel discussion and debate on Thursday morning.