Computational Astrobiology for the 21st Century
An invitation to participate in the mini-symposium:
“Computational Astrobiology for the 21st Century”
Location: Moffett Training and Conference Center (Building 3)
NASA-Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, CA
Date: Thursday, November 18th., 1999
This symposium will inaugurate the NASA Center for Computational
Astrobiology (NCCA) and will feature, among other speakers,
three Nobel Prize winners. Five brief talks discussing
computational astrobiology in a broad scientific context
will be followed by four longer presentations addressing
specific areas of astrobiology.
The principal objective of NCCA at Ames Research Center is to
advance our understanding of the origin, evolution and distribution
of life in the Universe, using theoretical and computational tools.
NCCA, adopting the multidisciplinary spirit of astrobiology, will
synthesize diverse research areas, methods and viewpoints. The Center
will draw on scientists with different backgrounds and interests
across different organizations at Ames and on an international
community of researchers intrerested in computational astrobiology.
For more information about NCCA please visit our web page:
http://cca.arc.nasa.gov
The program of the mini-symposium is as follows:
8:00 Registration and continental breakfast
(Stephanie Langhoff, Chief Scientist, ARC, Chair)
8:45-9:00 David Morrison, Director, Astrobiology and Space Research
Directorate
“What is Astrobiology?”
9:00-9:15 Jack Hansen, Deputy Director, NASA-Ames Research Center
Opening remarks
9:15-9:30 Andrew Pohorille, acting director, NCCA
“NASA Center for Computational Astrobiology”
9:30-9:40 Baruch Blumberg, Director, NASA Astrobiology Institute,
1976 Nobel Prize winner in medicine
9:40-9:55 T.R. Govindan, Ames Research Center
“Role of Information Sciences in Computational Astrobiology”
9:55-10:10 break
(Jeff Scargle, Chair)
10:10-11:00 Robert Laughlin, Stanford University, 1998 Nobel Prize
winner in physics
(tentative) “Polymerase Memory”
11:00-11:45 Jack Lissauer, Ames Research Center, a leading planetary
scientist
“Modeling the Formation of Planetary Systems”
11:45-12:30 Peter Kollman, U.C. San Francisco, the author of the
largest computer simulations of biological systems.
“Protein Folding – What can molecular dynamics simulations
tell us?”
12:30-14:00 Lunch (provided) and discussions
14:00-15:00 Christian de Duve, Rockefeller University, 1974 Nobel
Prize winner in medicine and the author of “Vital Dust”
“The Origin of Life”
Visitors:
Please e-mail your full name, telephone number and email address,
affiliation/company/address and citizenship to Rho Christensen:
rchristensen@mail.arc.nasa.gov
Please bring a picture ID, such as a driver’s license, to get a visitor
badge.
Permanent residents, please bring your green card and a picture ID
with you to the gate for your badge.
In addition, foreign nationals need to provide their date of birth,
country of birth, citizenship, visa number and type, and expiration
date and country issued by, passport number and type, and expiration
date and country issued by. They must bring that document with them
to the gate to be cleared.
To reach Ames
a. from San Francisco/San Francisco Airport:
head south on 101 towards San Jose
b. from Berkeley:
take any of the 3 bridges and head south on 101
c. from San Jose/San Jose Airport:
head north on 101 towards San Francisco
(do NOT use the Moffett South Gate exit)
When you reach Moffett Exits in Mountain View take Moffett Field
exit (and NOT Moffett Blvd). This will take you directly to the
Ames main gate. Keep to the right and let the sentry know you
want to pick up a visitor badge. The sentry will direct you to
a small parking area and the visitor badging office, just before
and the the right of the main gate itself. Your name should be
on file and you will be issued a badge and directions to Building 3.
