The over-arching objective of ABGradCon is to improve the future of astrobiology research by bringing together in a unique setting the early-career astrobiologists (graduate students of any level and post-doctoral fellows within 2 years of finishing their Ph.D.) that will lead astrobiology research in the years to come.
More specifically, our goals for this 2009 event are:
- to create an environment of shared learning, by providing time for oral and poster presentations
- to foster in-situ
multidisciplinary awareness by providing 2 outstanding field trips of
different focus (astrobiological volcanology
and astrobiological
oceanography) - to create and maintain a network of
interdisciplinary scientists
- to encourage interdisciplinary
research projects by providing time during the congress, and rewarding
outstanding collaborative ideas, and
- to broadcast the conference to
the internet community via web 2.0 technologies.The approach to this
conference will be novel, encouraging collaboration and adding
significant online capabilities, such as podcasting, broadcasting of
talks on the NASA Co-Lab site in Second Life, and the online posting of
all posters with an accompanying 2 minute video presentation of the
poster by the author. These sets of online capabilities will allow for
maximum interaction during and after the conference, as well as with
individuals not able to make it to the conference.
A preliminary program overview can be found here. The registration period was in early 2009. Registrations are now closed. Travel support (including airfare, lodging and meals) will be awarded to a all participants. | 
