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SETI Institute Selected As Astrobiology Lead Team (Forwarded)



 
 
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Old July 9th 03, 04:54 AM
Andrew Yee
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Default SETI Institute Selected As Astrobiology Lead Team (Forwarded)

SETI Institute

Contact Information:

Diane Richards
Marketing and Communications Officer
(650) 960-4513


Dr. Christopher Chyba
c/o Taylor Bucci
(650) 960-4519


June 25, 2003

SETI Institute Selected As Astrobiology Lead Team

Mountain View, CA -- The SETI Institute, a leader in the detection of life's
bio-signatures, received special recognition of its work this week from the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, when it was selected as a new
Lead Team of NASA's Astrobiology Institute (NAI), the international research
consortium coordinated through NAI's offices at NASA's Ames Research Center.

The SETI Institute is one of twelve teams that were selected, each of whom will
receive five-year awards at an average annual funding level of approximately one
million dollars. The SETI Institute's winning proposal included a variety of
research projects examining global-scale processes that have shaped, and been
shaped by, the interaction between life and its environment. Some of the funded
research will help SETI Institute scientists choose the target stars for the
SETI Institute's next-generation search for signs of intelligent
extraterrestrial life.

Dr. Christopher Chyba, holder of the SETI Institute's Carl Sagan Chair for the
Study of Life in the Universe, will lead a team of fourteen SETI Institute
co-investigators along with their collaborators from other academic and
scientific research institutions.

"Speaking on behalf of the Co-Principal Investigators who developed our proposal
to the NASA Astrobiology Institute, I can say we are proud to join this
remarkable group of institutions, representing some of the finest scientists and
engineers in the field of astrobiology," said Chyba. He went on to add, "The
SETI Institute brings unique strengths and scientific investigations to the NAI,
and membership in the NAI should in turn provide SETI Institute scientists with
new insights and opportunities. This is a tremendous win-win."

The SETI Institute has conducted astrobiology research since its inception in
1984, pursuing this research within the framework of a formula devised by SETI
pioneer, Dr. Frank Drake, in an equation bearing his name. Institute researchers
study the many questions underpinning the scientific search for both primitive
and intelligent life on other worlds. While the Institute has historically
referred to this area of science as "Life in the Universe" research, all of this
work falls within NASA's astrobiology mandate to "study the evolution,
distribution and future of life on Earth and in the universe."

"This exciting opportunity to join the NASA Astrobiology Institute is the
culmination of nineteen years of building a multi-disciplinary institution
focused on the various sciences that comprise astrobiology. All of us at the
SETI Institute look forward to this new level of partnership with NASA and the
other NAI team members," said SETI Institute CEO, Thomas Pierson.

Areas of research covered by the proposal include:

* high-altitude terrestrial lakes as analogs to early Mars;

* the surface geology and ocean chemistry of Jupiter's moon Europa, and the
survivability of bio-markers on its surface;

* the habitability of planets orbiting cool M stars, which may enlarge the list
of stars targeted for SETI searches;

* the biotic and abiotic mechanisms behind the "oxygen transition" on early Earth;

* the prebiotic and biotic nitrogen cycle on Earth and in laboratory simulations
of Mars;

* the role of iron in protecting anoxic life on early Earth against UV radiation.

Another important component of the proposal includes Education and Public
Outreach initiatives that will:

* fund teacher training and professional development workshops;

* collaborate with the California Academy of Science on new astrobiology exhibits;

* further engage the public, including underserved audiences, with the science
that underlies the funded NAI research.

In addition to the SETI Institute, other institutions selected for membership in
the NAI include the Carnegie Institution of Washington; Indiana University,
Bloomington; Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole; NASA Ames Research
Center; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Pennsylvania State University;
University of Arizona, Tucson; University of California, Los Angeles; University
of California, Berkeley; University of Colorado, Boulder; and the University of
Hawaii.

As part of its commitment to the new NAI award, the SETI Institute announced
today that Dr. Frank Drake will assume administrative responsibility as Director
of the SETI Institute's Center for the Study of Life in the Universe. This will
free the present Director, Dr. Chyba, to focus his efforts as lead Principal
Investigator for the NAI team. Chyba will also continue to hold the endowed Carl
Sagan Chair, providing visionary leadership to this and other SETI Institute
efforts.

"We couldn't find a more seasoned professional than Frank Drake to take on the
responsibilities of Director for the Center," said SETI Institute Board of
Trustees Chairman, Dr. Greg Papadopoulos. "He brings a magnificent skill set to
the enormous task of steering a remarkable group of scientists and engineers.
We're fortunate that Frank was excited about accepting this critical role at
such an important time in the life of the SETI Institute."

Recently named 'Chairman Emeritus' of the Institute's Board of Trustees, Drake
looks forward to his new role, and comments, "As Chris Chyba accepts the
responsibility of Principal Investigator for the SETI Institute's NAI Team, I
look forward to working closely with him and the many scientists, researchers
and staff who work on over three dozen projects in our Center for the Study of
Life in the Universe. I couldn't have a more committed group of people to work
with nor a more compelling scientific program than the search for life, in all
its forms, on our planet, within the solar system and beyond."

More Information

* SETI Institute NAI Announcement
http://www.seti.org/seti_nai/announcement.php
* Interviews with Christopher Chyba and Jill Tarter (multi-media clips)
http://www.seti.org/seti_nai/voices.php
* SETI Institute NAI team members
http://www.seti.org/seti_nai/team_members.php
* NASA NAI media release
http://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov/releases/2003/03_47AR.html


 




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