General Information

• Those who cannot travel to Seattle for AbGradCon 2009 can still participate through a variety of online and virtual world activities. Starting with a virtual welcome reception in Second Life on July 6, and during the conference on July 17-18, we've arranged for remote participation through a suite of online events. Check out the many options for connecting remotely to the conference described below, and join in the excitement!
• Second Life is a virtual world found on the internet that allows anyone in the world to interact and participate in a truly novel way. Click here to learn more about Second Life.
  
• Second Life is free, but requires a sturdy internet connection. See suggested requirements.
  
• One can interact with others via 3D bodies called avatars. Oh, and you can fly!

• July 6, 11am -12 noon PDT: Welcome reception in Second Life
  The welcome reception is an opportunity for participants to become familiar with Second Life and the AbGradCon virtual conference center. Stroll around the grounds to check out the poster area, the amphitheatre where talks will be streamed, the virtual Space Needle, and to pick up your free AbGradCon avatar t-shirt. The reception will feature live music and dancing as well as information on the upcoming conference. When entering the Second Life AbGradCon reception area, look for a pop-up window that describes how you can have your real name show above your avatar name—a virtual name badge that will help in networking with others attending in Second Life! If you need assistance during the reception, look for avatars wearing green t-shirts, who will be available to help.Talks will be broadcast live in Second Life and will be available online via browser.
  
  
• AbGradCon talks will be streamed into the Second Life Amphitheatre and viewable online from a browser during the times listed below. Choose your venue to listen to the next generation of researchers share their work. Poster authors please note: Privacy will be respected. If you don't want your talk broadcast, it won't be.
  

• July 17, 1:00pm – 3:00pm PDT: Virtual world poster session. Concurrent with the real-world poster session in Seattle, posters will be available in the AbGradCon virtual conference center in Second Life. Avatars will be able to use the Second Life chat feature to pose questions to poster authors Seattle, and there will be occasional appearances of poster authors through a video feed into Second Life. Poster presenters please note: Privacy will be respected. If you do not want anything posted, we will oblige.

• July 18 – 6:00pm PDT: “Battle of the Goddesses: Gaia vs Medea,” a public debate featuring Jim Kasting and Peter Ward, followed by an “ask an astrobiologist” session. The debate will be streamed into Second Life. More information is available on the AbGradCon website

• Throughout the conference, the AbGradCon Facebook page will be used as a social media hub, with links to YouTube and Flickr, Twitter updates, and blogging from the conference.

• In Second Life, avatars wearing green AbSciCon t-shirts will be available to help and to make connections with the conference participants who are in Seattle. Using the Second Life chat feature, questions may be asked of poster authors. Occasionally, poster authors will appear in a video stream in Second Life to answer questions.