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Appendix 6 - Astrobiology conferences in Reno and Carlsbad
Appendix 6 - Astrobiology conferences in Reno and Carlsbad
In May 2017 I got invitation from Dr. Kelly Smith to participate the conference: Social and Conceptual Issues in Astrobiology in University of Nevada, Reno USA, in 13th-15th of April 2018. Dr. Smith is Professor of Philosophy & Biological Sciences in Clemson University. Read also interesting article by Smith, May 2016: Do no harm to life on Mars? Ethical limits of Prime Directive . In the SoCIA meeting there was participants from several universities, NASA and SETI institute.
On 25th of October 2017 my abstract was approved to SoCIA 2018. Below is the title slide of my presentation on 14th of April. Totally I had 44 slides, where I present the key issues of my Life on Mars web site. The full slide set is here: <https://photos.app.goo.gl/s9E8EcVGMrRbFmtj2 .
All the Abstracts of SoCIA 2018 are available: in the program select "PDF version of the program" to see them. I recommend to read excellent abstract by Margaret Race from SETI institute, on page 19. My abstract is on same page. Margaret writes:
As SoCia researchers analyze Astrobiology from varied theoretical perspectives and non-science disciplines, they can come face to face with extreme situations and concerns that are no longer the realm of science fiction.
Also her last statement is absolutely correct: The specific examples will include global catastrophic hazards and existential risks; long duration human missions beyond Earth orbit; and analysis of risks and potential biohazards posed by round trip missions to Mars. .
Read also abtracts by Erik Persson (Lund University), on page 18, Linda Billings (NASA Planetary Defense office) on page 6, Barry E.DiGregorio (University of Buckingham) on page 8, Brian Green (Santa Clara University ) on page 9, Jacob Haqq-Misra (Blue Marble Space Institute) on page 9 and Michael Waltemathe (Ruhr University) on page 21. The abstract by these scientist handle issues which are important considering planetary protection.
Read also NASA event information about the meeting: Social and Conceptual Issues in Astrobiology (SOCIA 2018). Direct quote: ..we are on the brink of one of the most important discoveries in human history. Should this come to pass, we will immediately confront a series of extremely complex challenges that cannot be resolved without strong input from disciplines other than the sciences.
Below is part of the program. There was 2 presentations going on all the time.
My presentation in Socia conference went well. It was great to have Dr. Margaret Race from SETI institute in the audience. The discussion afterwards with her and established contacts are valuable.
General view of scientists was that we should not send humans to Mars. We must first solve ecological problems here on earth before we colonialize and mess up other planets. This was brought up also by great presentations by Lori Marino and Brian Green. In Reno I had an unforgettable discussion with Dr. Race concerning planetary protection regarding Mars and Earth. The next Socia meeting will be in Mississippi 2020, and there is a preliminary plan to have Socia 2024 in Finland.
In discussions it was brought up that NASA takes planetary protection seriously. The problem is that the rules by COSPAR are recommendations, and there are no international laws which would force all space agencies and private companies to fully take into account the planetary protection. That is why it is difficult to control player like SpaceX. This leads of course to a dangerous situation in future.
On 12th of November 2018 I presented my study in Helsinki Observatory , Finland. The event was the autumn meeting by Friends of the Observatory . Thanks for M.Voipio and M.Af Heurlin for the invitation. Link to Finnish language slideset . The new slideset is an improved version of the presentation in SoCIA 2018 in University of Nevada( slideset ). The title "Astrobiologiaa Marsista ja seuraukset planeettojen suojelulle" can be translated as "Astrobiology from Mars and implications to planetary protection".
Interesting conference is on November 2019: Mars Extant Life: What’s Next?. It is kept in National Cave and Karst Research Institute, Carlsbad, New Mexico. My abstract, LPI Contrib. No. 2108, Visual identification of Extant Martian life was approved on the agenda of this NASA organized conference. Among the presenters and abstrat authors are several astrobiologists, whose work I refer here: Beaty, Schulze-Makuch, Eigenbrode, Lanza, Des Marais, Levin, DiGregorio, …. Nice to see even word paleontology among the abstract titles. One purpose of the conference is to plan the future MARS exploration for investigating extant life. One alternative could be to send a rover with better instruments back to Gale crater. The benefit would be that you don’t have to search candidates for life again in another location. You could drive the rover directly to places which have candidates for life, for example back to John Klein site (Curiosity Sol 186,270). The conference conveners are:
David Beaty Mars Program Office, Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech.
Michael Meyer NASA Headquarters
Penelope Boston NASA Astrobiology Institute
Mary Voytek NASA Headquarters
Brandi Carrier Mars Program Office, Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech
To the end a small piece of humor
To the end a small piece of humor
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