TOPICS OF LECTURES
- The Interstellar Medium: structure and evolution
- Dust Grains: morphology, composition, chemical role
- Extraterrestial Ices
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Small Solids or Large Molecules?
- Diffuse Interstellar Bands: what are the carriers?
- Physical and Chemical Effects of UV Irradiation of Ices
- Particle Interaction with Solids: Laboratory Simulations and Astrophysical Applications
- Heterogeneous Catalysis on Surfaces of Astrophysical Interest- Transneptunian Objects- Interstellar grains and Comets
- Origin of Life
- Modeling Space Chemistry
LECTURERS
| L.J. Allamandola |
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, CA, USA |
| M.A. Barucci |
Meudon Observatory, Meudon, France |
| O. Biham |
Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel |
| P. Ehrenfreund |
Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands |
| J. Fulara |
Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland |
| J.M. Greenberg |
Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands |
| Th. Henning |
University of Jena, Jena, Germany |
| E. Herbst |
Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA |
| R.E. Johnson |
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA |
| J. Krelowski |
Center for Astronomy, Torun, Poland |
| V. Pirronello |
Catania University, Catania, Italy |
| K. Roessler |
Forschungszentrum, Juelich, Germany |
| G. Vidali |
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA |
| D.A. Williams |
University College, London, Great Britain |
The participation cost (full board and lodging) for the total period is of 1000 US dollars.
A limited financial support is available.
Applications to participate and to ask financial support (specifying the amount needed)
should be addressed (preferentially by e-mail and, if necessary, by fax) together with a short
Curriculum Vitae and the list of publications to
Prof. Valerio Pirronello
D.M.F.C.I.
Universita' di Catania
Viale A. Doria,
695125 Catania, Italy
tel. +39 095 7382805
fax +39 095 333231
vpirrone@dmfci.ing.unict.it
In the case of young people with only a few years of experience it should be enclosed a
recommendation letter from their research group leader or from another senior scientist active in the field.
The DEADLINE for receiving applications was the 25th of March 2000.
Directors of the Course: V. PIRRONELLO, J. KRELOWSKI
Director of the School: J.M. GREENBERG
Director of the Centre: A. ZICHICHI
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June 25-July 1:
Euroconference - XIIemes Rencontres de Blois - "Frontiers of Life"
Chateau de Blois, France, June 25-July 1, 2000
This is to inform you of a multidisciplinary international conference to be held in the Chateau
of Blois, in France, this year from June 25 to July 1.
The meeting will bring together researchers from two distinct communities - astrobiology and genetics -
and will focus on various aspects of life of common interest
to both communities, ranging from genetics and genomics, gene manipulation and biotechnologies, bioinformatics,
to the origins of life, its survival and evolution
in extreme environments, the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the search for its existence in the
solar system and beyond.
Details, including a preliminary programme, registration forms, and an abstract submission form for
submitted papers may be found on the conference web site:
http://wwwusr.obspm.fr/confs/blois2000.html
(note the absence of a . between www and usr in the above address - this is correct).
Young researchers who are members of a European Union member state, or citizens of Iceland,
Liechtenstein, Norway and Israel,as well as researchers of any
age from Eastern Europe are particularly encouraged to attend, since the conference has set aside funds
to (partially, and under certain conditions only) cover
their expenses. The details and an application form for financial support may be found on our web pages.
The deadline for pre-registration and hotel reservation is April 30, 2000.
L. M. Celnikier,
Observatoire de Meudon,
92195 Meudon Cedex, France
tel. 33 (0) 1 45077410,
fax 33 (0) 1 45077469,
blois97@obspm.fr
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July 9-14: 2000 Gordon Research Conference on the Origin of Life,
Plymouth State College
The year 2000 Gordon Research Conference on the Origin of Life is now scheduled to take place
at the Plymouth State College, from July 9-14, 2000.
The program includes the following sessions:
The origin and evolution of Archaean life;
Environmental evolution on the early Earth;
Prebiotic chemistry --recent advances in sugar synthesis;
The RNA world;
The last common ancestor and the tree of life;
(f) Horizontal gene transfer;
(f) Origin and evolution of metabolism;
and (g)The cosmic search for life.
Please note that attendance to the Gordon Research Conferences (GRC)
requires an application which must be sent prior to six weeks prior to the
GRC Headquarters,
University of Rhode Island,
P. O. Box 984,
West Kingston, RI 02892-0984, USA,
FAX ++401/783-7644.
Additional information may be found at the GRC web address:
http://www.grc.uri.edu/
Programme:
Chair: Antonio Lazcano, UNAM
Vice Chair: Kenneth Nealson, JPL
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I. SUNDAY JULY 9th, 2000
Mixer
Evening Session:
Introduction: The origin and evolution of Archaean life
Chair: Laura F. Landweber (Princeton University)
Speakers:
- George E. Fox (Houston University) "The Evolution of Translation"
- Chris House (Penn State University) "From Genomes to Microfossils:
the search for ancient biochemical diversity"
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II. MONDAY JULY 10th, 2000
Morning session: Environmental evolution on the early Earth
Chair: Jim Kasting (Penn State University)
Speakers:
- Paul Knauth (Arizona State University) "Archean climate and ocean salinity:
implications for atmospheric O2 and early terrestrial life"
- Hiroshi Ohmoto (Penn State University) "Oxygen-carbon-sulfur-iron cycles on the early Earth"
- Kai-Uwe Hinrichs (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) "Methane-consuming archaea in marine
sediments: Could they explain the light kerogens at 2.8 Ga?"
Evening session: Prebiotic chemistry- recent advances in sugar synthesis
Chair: Alan W. Schwartz (University of Nijmegen)
Speakers:
- Geoffrey Zubay (Columbia University) "A reaction sequence intended to simulate a prebiotic
pathway for ribose synthesis"
- Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy (The Scripps Research Institute) "The synthesis of sugar phosphates"
- Arthur Weber (NASA Ames Research Center) "Recent results supporting the Sugar Model"
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III. TUESDAY JULY 11th, 2000
Morning session: The RNA world
Chair: Jack Szostak (Harvard University)
Speakers:
- Jack W. Szostak (Harvard University) "Compartmentalization and RNA evolution"
- David P. Bartel (MIT) "RNA-catalyzed RNA synthesis"
- Michael Yarus (University of Colorado) "RNA-catalyzed acyl-transfer and peptide synthesis"
Evening session: The last common ancestor and the tree of life
Chair: Janet Siefert (University of Houston)
Speakers:
- Nicolas Galtier (Universite Montpellier) "Molecular evidence for a non-hyperthermophilic ancestor
to extant life forms"
- Patrick Forterre (Universite Paris-Sud) "The univeral tree of life and the nature of
hyperthermophiles: perspectives from phylogenomic studies"
- Alfonso Valencia (Centro Nacional de Biotecnologa) "Conservation and specialization of
protein-protein interactions: from the last common ancestor to today"
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IV. WEDNESDAY JULY 12th, 2000
Morning session: Horizontal gene transfer
Chair: J. Peter Gogarten (University of Conencticut)
Speakers:
- Jeffrey Lawrence (University of Pittsburgh) "How microbial lifestyle affects rate of horizontal genetic transfer"
- Mark Ragan (Institute for Marine Biosciences, NRC) "Thinking laterally about genomes"
- Patrick Keeling (University of British Columbia) "Lateral Gene Transfer in Eukaryotic Genome Evolution"
Evening session: Origin and evolution of metabolism
Chair: David W. Deamer
Speakers:
- Andrew Ellington (University of Texas) "Evolutionary modification of the composition of living systems"
- Roy A. Jensen (University of Florida) "Evolution of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in the light of emerging genomic data"
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V. THURSDAY JULY 13th, 2000
Morning session: The cosmic search for life
Chair: Dave DesMarais (NASA/Ames)
Speakers:
- Jack Farmer (Arizona State University) "Exploring for Martian Life: past results and future opportunities"
- Athena Coustenis (Observatoire du Paris) " Titan: an exobiotic environment in our Solar System "
- James Kasting (Penn State University) "Possible bio-indicator gases in extrasolar planet atmospheres."
Evening session: Business session
Chair: Antonio Lazcano (UNAM)
Vice Chair: Ken Nealson (JPL)
Banquet
Keynote Speaker: Barry Blumberg (Astrobiology Institute, NASA)
Astrobiology: "problems and perspectives" (to be confirmed)
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VI. FRIDAY JULY 14th, 2000
Adjourn after breakfast
If any additional information is required, please do not hesitate to contact:
Antonio Lazcano
(Facultad de Ciencias,
UNAM04510 Mexico D.F., MEXICO
FAX No. + 525/622.4828)
2000 Gordon Research Conference on the Origin of Life
E-mail: alar@hp.fciencias.unam.mx
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July 16-23: COSPAR00 in Varsaw
The next Cospar meeting will be held in Warsaw on July 16-23, 2000.
It will include many sessions related to Origins of Life, Exo/Astrobiology.
For more details see the last ISSOL Newsletter issue (fall 1999) :
All Cospar informations are also available on the following Cospar Web site:
http://www.copernicus.org/COSPAR/COSPAR.html
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September 3-8: Workshop on Life, Modena, Italy
General information, Topics
The Workshop on Life (September 3-8, 2000, Modena) will be organised as one of the preliminary meetings
before the Millennial World Meeting of University Professors (planned for September 8-10, 2000, Rome).
It is expected that to those participants who would like to attend both meetings an organised transport
facility will be offered from Modena to Roma.
The Workshop on Life will be organised as a chain of Round Table discussions on the present state-of-art
of the most fundamental questions of life:
Definition of life
Origin(s) of life
Legal, moral and philosophical problems connected with life
A collection of Abstracts and a summary of the preliminary opinions on these problems shall be sent
to those participants before July 20, 2000 who registered (and paid the fee) before this date. The organisers
hope that this will facilitate the discussions.
First Circular
Workshop
on Life
September 3-8, 2000
Modena, Italy
As part of the satellite meetings
before the Millennial
World Meeting of University Professors
September 8-10, 2000
Rome, Italy
Web site: http://www.unimo.it/onlife
We would be very grateful if you could take the time to answer us, summarizing your own opinion on the
definition of life (be it one sentence or several pages). We should ask your permission for the publication
partly or entirely your definition, but this will always be done with reference at your name (adding, if you
wish, your working place) or at any of your earlier publications indicated in your answer.
Invited lecturers of the Round Table Discussion will be selected on the basis of this "brain storming" by
correspondence.
Please, be so kind to answer even if you cannot attend at the Workshop.
International Scientific Committee
Luciano CAGLIOTI (Co-chairman, Italy)
Gyula PLYI (Co-chairman, Italy)
Claudia ZUCCHI (Secretary, Italy)
Mitsuhiko AKABOSHI (Japan)
Jeffrey L. BADA (USA)
Giovanni Sebastiano BAROZZI (Italy)
Olmes BISI (Italy)
Jerzy DZIK (Poland)
Andrea Ferrari (Italy)
Flavio FORNI (Italy)
Carlo JACOBONI (Italy)
Brian JOHNSTONE (Italy)
Renzo LAMBERTINI (Italy)
Antonio LAZCANO (Mexico)
Paul G. MEZEY (Canada)
Domenico MISSITI (Italy)
Gabor NARAY SZABO (Hungary)
Maurizio PONZ DE LEON (Italy)
Julius REBEK, Jr. (USA)
Manfred SCHIDLOWSKI (Germany)
Kenso SOAI (Japan)
Ers SZATHMRY (Hungary)
Ferdinando TADDEI (Italy)
Paolo TONGIORGI (Italy)
Gyula VARADI (USA)
Registration
Reduced (early) registration
(before March 31, 2000)
| Regular |
Lit 550.000,- |
Student |
80.000,- |
Accompanying person |
150.000,- |
Full registration fee
(after March 31, 2000)
| Regular |
Lit 800.000,- |
Student |
150.000,- |
Accompanying person |
200.000,- |
For members of ISSOL and Japan Society for the Study of the
Origins of Life 20% discount is offered
Deadline for the submission of Abstracts
May 15, 2000
Correspondence
Prof. Gyula PLYI, Chairman
Dr. Claudia ZUCCHI, Secretary
Department of Chemistry
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
Via Campi, 183 I-41100 MODENA (Italy)
phone: + 39 - (059) - 378 - 443 (Plyi) - 444 (Zucchi)
fax: + 39 - (059) - 373543
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September 18-22:
SixthTrieste Conference on Chemical Evolution
Conference web page:
http://www.ictp.trieste.it/~chelaf/trieste2000/
Advisory Committee
CHADHA, Mohindra S., India
COYNE George Vincent, Citta' del Vaticano
DRAKE, Frank,
United States of America
GREENBERG, J. Mayo, Netherlands
KRITSKIY, Mikhail, Russia
McKAY, Christopher P., United States of America
MACDERMOTT, Alexandra, United States of America
NEGRON-MENDOZA, Alicia, Mexico
OR, Juan , USA and Spain
WANG Wenqing, People's Republic of China.
First Steps in the Origin of Life in the Universe
A Euro conference
(TRIESTE CONFERENCE ON CHEMICAL EVOLUTION - VI)
The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics,
Trieste, Italy
Monday, 18-Friday, 22 September, 2000.
Co-Sponsors:
The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics,
(ICTP) Trieste, Italy
European Commission
The SETI Institute,
Mountain View, California, USA
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Italy
Directors
CHELA-FLORES, Julian
The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics,
and
Italy and Instituto de Estudios Avanzados (IDEA), Venezuela,
OWEN Tobias
Institute For Astronomy,
2680 Woodlawn Drive, 96822 Honolulu (Hawaii)
United States of America
RAULIN, Francois
LISA, UMR CNRS 7583, Universites Paris 12 & Paris7
Faculte des Sciences et Technologie,
61, Avenue du General de Gaulle, F-94010 CRETEIL Cedex France
Programme:
Life without starlight. How important is the "invention" of photosynthesis
for the evolution of life? Is there indigenous organic material on Mars? The search
for prebiotic and biological indicators in the satellites of the outer solar system.
New Approaches for the Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligent Radio Signals and
some of its Implications.
We are planning to publish the proceedings: Instructions will be inserted in
the Web page. Participation is open to scientists from all member countries of the
United Nations, UNESCO and IAEA. There will be very limited grants available to
cover the local expenses for some participants to be selected by the Organizers.
We have requested some funds earmarked for young European scientists. Travel is expected
to be borne mainly by the home institutions. There is no registration fee for attending the Conference.
Deadline:
Participation requests should be sent by 30 April 2000 to:
TRIESTE CONFERENCE ON CHEMICAL EVOLUTION - VI
ICTP, P.O. Box 586; I-34100 Trieste, Italy.
Telephone: +39 (040) 2240111; Fax: +39 (040) 224163
WWW server: http://www.ictp.trieste.it/~chelaf/trieste2000/,
Trieste, April 2000.
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October 16-19:
35th ESLAB Symposium & Exo/Astrobiology European Meeting
35th ESLAB Symposium
European Exo/Astrobiology Network and Workshop
ESTEC, 16-19 October, 2000
There is a considerable interest within Europe in the setting of a European Exo/Astrobiology Network and a
steering group has been convened including representatives from France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and UK.
The objective of the Network is to facilitate fruitful co-operation in Exo/Astrobiology in Europe and to develop a European
research programme in this interdisciplinary field.
Collaborations with the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) will also be encouraged.
A workshop on Exo/Astrobiology will be co-organized jointly with ESA Space Science Department (ESLAB meeting) and will be
held at ESA/ESTEC in Noordwijk, The Netherlands , 16-19 October 2000.
The objective of the workshop is to launch officially the European Exo/Astrobiology Network (EEN) in order to
increase the European collaborations :
- There are only a smallish number of practitioners in each exobiology sub-field in each country so they would
benefit from being brought into contact with people in other countries. Mutual research programmes then would benefit from shared
expertise and formation of cross-country groups.
- National programmes tend to be limited in cross sub-field contacts.
A programme with a number of sub-fields may lack complete expertise in one country. Knowledge of where to get the needed expertise,
within a context of existing European links, would be beneficial. These European links need to be established.
- Some exobiology programmes actually need a European component - e.g. ESA projects - and European communities for these
need to be built up further than at present.
- In this rapidly growing field, meetings between Europeans will trigger research ideas and collaborations, which otherwise would be missed.
The promotion of such European meetings is needed.
- The need to build a specifically European network, as otherwise there is a natural pull for Europeans to first choose
to collaborate with our US associates, who are numerous.
- The NASA exobiology drive (inc. the NAI) opens up possibilities for European-US links.
- Such a Network could help promote exobiology activities in those European countries with not yet fully active programmes.
The following topics will be covered during the workshop:
- Life in the Universe
- Terrestrial life as the reference
- Search-for-life strategies
- Extraterrestrial organic chemistry
- Bio/geological evolution of planets and satellites
- Exoplanets, extrasolar life and societal aspects
additional information:
- Dr. Andre Brack,
Centre de Biophysique Moleculaire,
CNRS, Rue Charles Sadron,
45071 Orleans cedex 2, France.
Email: brack@cnrs-orleans.fr
and from the ESA-ESTEC web site: http://solarsystem.estec.esa.nl/eslab35/eslab35_frame.htm
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December 14-19: Astrobiochemistry and Origins of Life
a symposium to be held at
PACIFICHEM 2000
The International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies
December 14-19, 2000
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.
A symposium titled "Astrobiochemistry and Origins of Life"
will be held at the 2000 International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A. on December 14-19, 2000.
Three half-day oral sessions are planned along with poster sessions.
The Symposium will be organized around the following broad subject area: "Astrobiology" is a new interdisciplinary field of research
aimed at understanding the origin, evolution, and destiny of life in the universe. In attempting to elucidate the origin of life in this broad context, understanding
the formation, survival, and prebiotic potential of organic compounds in solar system bodies like the early earth, Mars, Europa, asteroids, meteorites, and comets, as
well as extrasolar environments such as interstellar clouds is essential, and laboratory analyses and simulations, astronomical observations, and remote analyses all
contribute to this understanding.
Recent geochemical research on submarine hydrothermal vents and traces of life in Precambrian rocks have provided new insights to the
origin of terrestrial life. Recent results in these and related areas areas will be presented.
Organizers
Kensei Kobayashi
Yokohama National University
Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology,
Hodogaya-ku,
Yokohama 240-8501, Japan
Tele & Fax: +81-45-339-3938
kkensei@pchem.bsk.ynu.ac.jp
John R. Cronin
Arizona State University
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, U. S. A.
Tele: +1-480-965-3728,
Fax: +1-480-965-2747
jcronin@asu.edu
Wang Wenqing
Beijing University
Department of Technical Physics
Beijing 100871, China
Tele: +86-10-62755200,
*Fax:+8610-62751873
WANGWQ@SUN.IHEP.AC.CN
Meeting Reports:
The First Iberoamerican Astrobiology School, November 1999, Caracas, Venezuela
REPORT ON THE FIRST IBERO-AMERICAN SCHOOL OF ASTROBIOLOGY
Antgona Segura, Sandra Ramrez, Itzel Prez-Chavez and Rafael Navarro-Gonzlez
Laboratorio de Qumica de Plasmas y Estudios Planetarios, Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares
Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico,
Circuito Exterior, C.U., Apartado
Postal 70-543
Mxico D.F. 04510, Mxico
The first Ibero-American School of Astrobiology was held in Caracas, Venezuela from
November 29 to December 8, 1999. Twenty-five scientists from institutions all around the
world presented a wide view of subjects related to Astrobiology in forty lectures. Seventy
participants shared their knowledge and doubts about the origins of life in the Universe.
Graduate and undergraduate students had the special opportunity to communicate their research
work via posters and oral presentations in their own native tongue, spanish. The School was
outstandingly organized by Dr. Julian Chela-Flores from the Abdus Salam International Centre
for Theoretical Physics, Italy; Dr. Guillermo Lemarchand from the Instituto Argentino de
Radioastronoma, Argentina; and Dr. Juan Or from the University of Houston, USA.
Subject areas covered by the School included:
origin and evolution of the Universe and the
Solar System; chemical evolution; origin and evolution of life; past, present and future of
space exploration, Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) and planets around other stars.
The next Ibero-American School of Astrobiology will be held on 2001 in Mexico, and will be
organized by Dr. Rafael Navarro-Gonzlez from the Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico.
The main co-sponsors of the school were the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), the International Centre for Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology, both in Trieste, Italy, and the Chancellor's Office of the Universidad Simn Bolvar. In addition, the event was generously
supported by NASA Headquarters, European Space Agency, TALVEN Programme, (Delegacin Permanente de Venezuela ante la UNESCO), SETI Institute,
Centro Latinoamericano de Fsica, the Third World Academy of Sciences, Academia de Ciencias Fsicas, Matemticas y Naturales, Red Latinoamericana
de Biologia, the Planetary Society, the Latin American Academy of Sciences (Fondo ACAL), Alberto Vollmer Foundation, Inc., Fundacin J. Oro,
Associated to the Catalonian Research Foundation, Red Latinoamericana de Astronomia, and Colegio Emil Friedman.
Astrobiology: Origin, Evolution and Distribution of Life in the Universe
Frank Drake, director of the SETI Institute, defined Astrobiology as the branch of biology
that studies the origins and distribution of life in the Universe. A general view of the four major
areas related to Astrobiology was presented: (1) origins of life: Deals with the problems of formation
of biomolecules in the primeval Earth, in the interstellar medium or in other space bodies as comets;
(2) Evolution: Focuses on how life evolve to intelligent beings, and especially on how the
australopithecine changes to the Homo erectus and then to the Homo sapiens;
(3) Distribution of Life in the Universe: Studies the distribution of biomolecules in the Universe
and their further evolution in other environments;
and (4) Space Exploration: Research on the space outside Earth's orbit, by means of both manned
and unmanned spacecrafts, allows a better understanding of the Universe and help us to learn more about
our own origins. Every one of these points was briefly discussed, including the efforts to detect
signals from an extraterrestrial intelligence.
Overview of the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
An overview of the school was presented in two parts. The first one was entitled From the
Origin of the Universe to the Origin of Life in the Solar System, and was delivered by Julian
Chela-Flores, who talked about the origin of life from a historical point of view, from Greek philosophers
to the Big-Bang Theory which changed the conception about our origins. Guillermo Lemarchand presented the
second part of the overview with the talk From the origin of intelligence, language and civilization to
the search for other civilizations. Intelligence was defined by Lemarchand as that what allows us to discover
a new subjacent order. The possibility that intelligent beings in other planets could exhibit language and
artistic expressions was considered taking into account what is known about human ancestors. If there are
other civilizations in our galaxy it might be possible to detect them. SETI project has the ambitious goal
of catching a signal, by means of radioastronomy, from words beyond our Solar System in an attempt to establish
contact with other probable existing technologically advanced civilizations.
Exobiology: Bases for the Study of Life in Solar Systems. The contribution of NASA
IMPACTS OF COMETS AND ASTEROIDS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON MASSIVE EXTINCTIONS
Impacts had an important role in formation and evolution of Solar System bodies explained Adriana Ocampo
from NASA Headquarters. She revised all major massive extinctions and analyzed in detail the extinction of dinosaurs
which occurred 65 million years ago. Geologic characteristics of an impact were discussed and compared with that found
in the Chicxulub crater, located on Yucatn, Mexico. The climatic changes and the consequently extinction of several
species due to this impact were presented. Ocampo explained the most accepted theory of the Moon formation that implies
that it was formed from an impact of a celestial body with the proto-Earth.
THE SEARCH FOR LIFE IN INHOSPITABLE SITES: EUROPA AND THE MARTIAN METEORITE
Ocampo talked about the bacteria-like structures found in the Martian meteorite, ALH84001. To date, there is no
confirmation that those meteoritic structures have a biogenic origin, but if that were the case, it is possible that life
on Mars may have survived in very extreme conditions. Three examples of organisms living on these conditions on Earth
were then examined: algae in Lake Ross that live under the ice layer; cyanobacteria in Antarctic and desserts, and worms
in hydrothermal vents. These organisms set the scenario for the postulation of the existence of life in the hydrothermal
vents on Europe, a Jupiter's moon. She also gave an overview of Cassini-Huygens and Mars Polar Lander missions.
THE GALILEO MISSION
Juan G. Roeder from the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, presented a review of the
Galileo Mission. The main objective of the spacecraft was to get in Jupiters atmosphere. Galileo spacecraft obtain data
about Earth in order to calibrate its instruments. Later it got information from asteroids Ira and Gaspra. Roeder explained
that Galileo used the gravity from Jupiters satellites to visit them and the problems with the principal antenna of the
spacecraft. The mission ended when the spacecraft enter to Jupiters atmosphere. The speed of winds were measured and the
composition of Jupiter atmosphere was analyzed too, but this parameters was not representative because the zone sampled was
not characteristic of the whole planet.
From Cosmic Evolution to the Evolution of the Solar System
THE COSMOS AND COSMOLOGY
The standard theory of the origin of the Universe was discussed by Hctor Rago from the Physics Department, Universidad
de los Andes, Venezuela. This theory, called Big-Bang theory, predicts that the universe was born 15 billion years ago from a
point with infinite temperature, pressure and density. The history of the Universe based on observational evidences was presented.
Rago explained that recently, a new element was introduced to the theory, called inflation, which consists in an exponential
expansion of the Universe, at 10-35 minutes after it was born. Many doubts remain about the origin and evolution of the Universe
and new instruments and theories will improve our knowledge about it.
COSMOCHEMICAL EVOLUTION
Juan Or from the Department of Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences, University of Houston, classified cosmochemical
evolution in: galactic, stellar, elementary, chemical, biological and cultural. He then discussed each of these steps and focused
the attention in the formation of elements and molecules of biological relevance. Or emphasized the important role that comets
may have played in chemical evolution, and maintained that all the water present on Earth is from cometary origin.
Chemical Evolution in the Solar System
CHEMICAL EVOLUTION AND ORIGINS OF LIFE IN EARLY MARS
Rafael Navarro-Gonzlez, from the Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico, discussed which are the key molecules for the
origin of life and explained the importance of nitrogen in the formation of some of these molecules. He described some mechanisms
of nitrogen fixation that are dependent on high temperature regimes and which led to the production of nitric oxide (NO) in carbon
dioxide riched atmospheres. Navarro-Gonzlez proposed a geochemical process that affected the atmospheric CO2 abundance on early
Earth and that may have induced the development of organisms capable to fix nitrogen. On early Mars the chemical ingredients necessary
for chemical evolution could have been formed in explosive volcanic plumes.
CHEMICAL EVOLUTION ON EARTH (I, II)
Alicia Negrn-Mendoza, from the Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico, summarized the main steps of chemical evolution.
This process is the transition from simple organic molecules to biological relevant compounds that eventually and by several physical
and chemical changes could originate the first living cells. The subject was divided in two lectures; the first one focused on the
analytic point of view based on geologic information, fossil record and chemical fossils. She explained the endogenous and exogenous
sources of organic molecules. The different experiments that have addressed the history of chemical evolution were revised on the second
lecture. These experiments have, in general, four main features: to address the raw material, to specify the energy needed for the process,
to achieve a good separation and analysis of products and to represent relevant geologic conditions. Finally, Negrn-Mendoza talked about
the current problems in chemical evolution, such as the origin of chirality, monomer synthesis and the origin of genetic code.
CHEMICAL EVOLUTION IN TITAN
Rafael Navarro-Gonzlez discussed about the characteristics of the largest Saturn's moon: Titan. This satellite has been considered
as the best planetary body in our Solar System for studying the relation atmosphere-lithosphere-ocean in the absence of life. Spacecraft and
Earth-based observations have contributed to a better understanding of Titan. Laboratory simulations and modeling work have also provided a
wide range of information. Navarro-Gonzlez focused his talk in the role that electrical discharges, specifically corona discharges, can
play in the satellite's lower atmosphere. The formation mechanisms of certain organic compounds were presented as well as the latest results
in computing energy yields. These results can be extrapolated to the early Earth scenario for a better understanding on the chemical evolution topic.
Biological Bases for the Study of the Evolution of Life in the Universe
THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION
Jess Alberto Len from the Instituto de Zoologa Tropical of the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas, Venezuela defined
living beings as physical systems in which entropy locally decreases and that posses three fundamental capacities: multiplication, heredity and
variation. He explained Darwinian theory as a process where incidental changes happen in the genetic code and are reflected in the variation
of inheritable changes and if these changes affect fecundity and survival before a selection pressure, natural selection acts. Therefore, a
genotype or group of genotypes is preferentially selected upon the others. He highlighted the role of cooperation in evolution.
From the Cenancestor to Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes (I, II, III)
In three sessions Antonio Lazcano from the Department of Biology of
UNAM at Mexico City presented the elements needed to look for characteristics of the first living cell. In the first lecture he revised the
different classifications of living beings that have been proposed during human history. He discussed the classification based on the absence
or presence of cellular nuclei, which set two main kinds of living beings, prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and he stressed that the later were
originated in a sudden evolutionary event called symbiosis. In the second lecture, Lazcano presented the fossil record available for eukaryotes
and prokaryotes. He also presented the phylogenetic tree constructed with rRNA sequences where three main domains of living beings are
distinguished: Archea, Bacteria and Eukarya. Based on gene sequences of specific proteins it is deduced that Eukarya and Archaea domains are
closely related domains and actually they present some similar molecular characteristics. The last session was dedicated to the search for
the cenancestor. Lazcano discussed the problems to determine the attributes of the cenancestor: gene loss, different rates of nucleotide
substitution, horizontal transfer of genetic information, secondary loss of organelles, and evolutionary innovations in detail. Finally, Lazcano
presented a proposal for evolution of life, from primitive soup to the kingdoms Archea, Bacteria and Eukarya.
EVOLUTION OF ADAPTIVE SYSTEMS
Hernn Dopazo from CONICET and Centro de Estudios Avanzados of the Universidad de Buenos Aires in Argentina defined an adaptive
system as an entity or group of entities that can undergo Darwinian evolution. In evolution there are changes in organization levels that lead
to biological complexity. As complexity increases, a heredity system that enables the transmission of more information is needed and information
is protected from deterioration increasing fidelity or correcting errors. In the generative process of evolution, few changes in genetic information
produce a range of bauplans. There are also adaptive systems within adaptive systems, for example, the immune system. Finally, Dopazo, revised
some of the adaptive systems as genetic code and cultural heritage.
CONTEMPORARY CONTROVERSIES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION
This subject was presented by Alicia Massarini from the Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. She explained that Natural Selection
is the responsible of every evolutionary change and is enough to interpret all the characteristics in the individuals. Variability was discussed
in order to understand its role on population genetics. The critics to the adaptive program where presented and were illustrated by some examples.
Factors that limit the adaptive process are intrinsic and extrinsic. The first ones are related to the historical background, development and design
of each species. The extrinsic factors depend on the relation between the specie and its niche.
PROTOPLANETARY DISKS, COMETS AND LIFE
Juan Or highlighted the importance of comets and interstellar matter in the origins of life. He described the initial conditions
prior to the formation Solar System specially those that allowed the existence of life like the mass of the star and the formation of planets.
He analyzed the conditions that a planet must fulfill to be habitable. Or addressed the chemical and physical conditions necessary to initiate
chemical evolution and insisted on the important role that comets played on the evolution of life. Comets could have been responsible of the
appearance of life, but they could have also been responsible of its disappearance, the massive extinctions on Earth may be the best example.
Exobiology: Bases for the study of Life in Solar Systems. The contribution of ESA
ESA EXPLORATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM (I, II)
The aims and organization of the European Spatial Agency (ESA) were explained by Willem Wamsteker from the European Space Agency Headquarters.
ESA is an intergovernmental organization formed in 1975. The ESA mission is to provide and promote for exclusively peaceful purposes the exploitation
of space science, research and technology, and space applications. Wamsteker described the ESA programs such as Earth observation, telecommunications,
launcher development, manned space flight and microgravity research. He described the ESA research centers and the areas covered by each of them
(solar-terrestrial interaction, interplanetary and interstellar medium, stars and the Universe). Some former and current ESA missions were described.
Some of them currently are contributing to our understanding of the universe for example: Ulysses, Hubble Space Telescope (space observatory), SOHO
(Sun-Earth environment), and Cassini-Huygens probes to Saturn and Titan.
Small Bodies of the Solar System
SOLAR SYSTEM, COMETS AND METEORITES (I, II)
Two lectures were presented by Humberto Campins, from the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona. The first lecture was
focused on meteorites; he explained in detail the classification, characteristics and origin of these bodies. Meteorites are especially valuable
because they are the oldest samples of the Solar System, like comets and asteroids, because they retain the record of events that occurred during
their own formation and the conditions of the Solar Nebula where planets formed. The composition of meteorites was presented in order to analyze their
links with geological processes. The second lecture was devoted to comets. Campins discussed their composition and localization in the Solar System.
Differences between asteroids and comets were analyzed. The comet composition can be inferred from an analysis of their parent and daughter molecules.
The parent molecules (water vapor, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen cyanide) are directly sublimated from the ice nuclei while the daughter molecules
are photodissociation products of the parent ones. The compositions derived from observation of several comets were presented. Finally Dr. Campins
discussed the evidences that point to water on Earth have a cometary origin.
SOLAR SYSTEM ORIGINS AND METEORITES (I, II)
Campins explained the scenario of the Solar System formation in his first lecture. The Sun was born from the gravitational collapse of a
molecular cloud. While the central star shrink to its actual size, the angular moment was loose through the formation of a protoplanetary disk
around the star. Planets were accreted from the material of the disk. Near the Sun the most volatile compounds were evaporated, then the bodies
accreted in this region are small rocky planets. Far from the Sun the planets kept more volatiles and grown bigger. Dr. Campins exposed some
theoretical problems on the planet formation. The second lecture was dedicated to the role of impacts in the evolution of planets and other stellar
systems. Five examples were discussed to illustrate the first part of the lecture: Moon formation, which is due to an impact very early in the history of
Earth; Uranus's rotation axe, that has an inclination nearly to 90o; the massive extinction 65 million years ago; the Tunguska impact in 1908; and the
collision of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter. Campins discussed how the planets detected around other stars are an excellent test for theories
of formation and dynamics of planetary systems.
Origins of Cognitive Systems
INFORMATION, LIFE AND BRAINS (I, II)
Juan Roeder presented this subject in two lectures the first one was dedicated to the analysis of interactions and some thermodynamic concepts.
He distinguished two kind of interactions, the first ones conducted by forces, and the second ones determined by information. In this sense,
he described a living system as the one whose interactions are dominated by information. It is difficult to set the transition between systems
that use those different interactions. This problem was compared with the transition between quantum and classic physics. Roeder showed that the
human intelligence is the only one that uses information about the future to interact. Irreversible processes and entropy were analyzed. The second lecture
was devoted to define the functions of animal brains and the characteristic features of human brain discussing the exclusive functions of the later.
Dr. Roeder presented briefly the evolution of nerve system. Primitive animals had sensors and transmitters, but they cannot process any information,
later organisms had multiple sensors to detect changes in the environment that modify their conduct. Vertebrates have a brain to keep information and
regulate their own body functions. Information processing by the hearing and sight senses was analyzed. Roeder pointed out that the brain is only hardware,
there is no software, so there is not such a thing as mind. He explained that information changes the synaptic architecture, each knowledge generates its
own specific chain of electrical impulses. Based on that he addressed the problem of construct a brain. He finalized talking about the special attributes of human brain.
ORIGIN OF THE NEURON
Raimundo Villegas from Centro de Biociencias of the Instituto de Estudios Avanzados at Caracas, Venezuela, presented a historical perspective of the
studies on the neuron, starting with the studies made by Ramn y Cajal. He defined the neuron as a polarized cell specialized for intercellular communication
and presented its general structure. Villegas explained the embryological development, the establishment and modification of interneuronal connections
(synapsis) and synaptic plasticity of vertebrate nervous system. In the lecture it was presented a synthesis of the evolution of neuronal activity from
coelenterates to vertebrates and the distribution of ionic channels in different groups of organisms. Finally, the possibility of the existence of other kinds
of systems for biological communication was discussed.
ORIGIN OF SINAPSIS: A SCIENTIFIC ACCOUNT OR THE STORY OF A HYPOTHESIS
Ernesto Palacios-Pru from Centro de Microscopa Electrnica of the Universidad de los Andes in Mrida, Venezuela, explained synapsis and its function
in intercellular communication, the structure of synaptosomes and specificity of synapsis. During his talked, Palacios-Pru described his own research on chemical
synapsis of platyhelmintes. He explained that in platyhelmintes there are chemical synapsis with PSD and that in higher organisms neuronal net is more complex, with
inhibitory and reciprocal synapsis. He mentioned the process to establish synapsis at distance.
ORIGIN OF LANGUAGE
Elinor Medina de Callarotti from Instituto de Estudios del Conocimiento and Departamento de Idiomas of Universidad Simn Bolvar in Caracas, Venezuela talked
about the features of human language which is complex and creative. Language is composed by symbols that possesses, by convention, a meaning and these symbols
are combined following certain grammatical rules. There are many human languages that use different symbols but they follow common super-rules. She explained four
theories of the origin of language: imitation of natural sounds, spontaneous origin, gesture theory and functional theory. She talked about language as a partially
innate and partially social phenomenon. From an evolutionary point of view, language is a biological adaptation for the communication of information.
Bioastronomy: Bases for the Study of Environments for the Possible
Distribution of Intelligence in the Universe.
SETI: PRESENT AND FUTURE PROBLEMS
Frank Drake from the SETI Institute, listed the principal SETI problems. Sensibility is one of them; today there are radiotelescopes with good sensibility
but the access to them is limited. The second one is the multi-channel search, which will be solved with equipment for searching a billion channels that is under
construction. Drake mentioned that interference represents other technical problem. Access to big radiotelescopes is another problem that needs to be addressed.
To solve it the Project Cyclops was proposed. It consists of a radiotelescope composed by antennas, 3 or 4 meters in diameter, covering a surface of 10 square kilometers
that will increase sensibility and the probabilities to detect a signal. Drake shared with us the SETIs dream to use the gravitational lens of the Sun for constructing a
big telescope with great resolution.
SETI: THE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS
Guilllermo A. Lemarchand talked about SETI as an experiment for demonstrating that there is extraterrestrial intelligent life. He presented SETIs basic hypothesis:
it is more likely to receive a message in frequencies ranging from 1 to 10 GHz (especially in the waterhole region). The principal limitations for the SETI project are
unknown place, time and frequency of the alien emission. An alternative experiment is to search for signals of extraterrestrial technological activity instead of searching
for an intentional message, and to use a nanosecond-pulsed laser for interstellar communication. Lemarchand explained is improbable that aliens would be present here
because interstellar traveling would require an enormous amount of energy. Lemarchand explained the project META II and how supernovas can be used for synchronization
emission-reception, and concluded that if SETI does not detect a message as long as it listens, it will be no proof that we are alone.
NEW ASPECTS OF ASTRONOMY RELEVANT TO ASTROBIOLOGY (I, II)
One of the last lectures was given by Sabatino Sofia from the University of Yale, who presented the history of the Universe from the Big-Bang to the formation of
planetary systems, and mentioned that we are made of stardust. The formation of elements in the stellar interiors and its later release to the space was explained.
Sofia presented the observational evidence of the formation of other planetary systems. He explained the method to detect planets around other stars and showed the
characteristics of the ones already detected.
Philosophical implications of the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
ASTROPHYSICS AND METATECHNICS
This lecture was presented by Ernesto Mayz Vallenilla, from the Centro Interdiciplinario de Investigaciones Tericas, Venezuela. He defined metatechnics
as the translation of other techniques to that of the human being by means of luminous, spatial and optic signals and discussed the limits imposed by human language
to understand nature. Human cosmogony has certainly changed but the cosmic order may be only a human product and not real: Surely we are not alone. Nevertheless, human models
of the Universe are unavoidably anthropomorphic, anthropocentric and geocentric. We are prisoners of our brains capacity of conception. Other intelligent beings may as well
be limited. Mayz Vallenilla criticized the control that humans wanted to exert over nature by the knowledge about it.
ON DEEPER QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Julin Chela-Flores talked about the limitations of science. He pointed out that there is biogeocentrism in astrobiology and set out some questions as: if we could
run the evolutionary history again, would it be repeated? Chela-Flores discussed the ideas related to origins were science and religion might be very close.
Closing Lecture: The Future of Man in Space
THE FUTURE OF HUMAN MISSIONS IN SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION
The lecture was presented by NASA Astronaut, Dr. Garrett Reisman from Lyndon Johnson Space Center, USA. He explained the problems we need to overcome in order to
initiate interplanetary voyagers. He presented a video of survival train of astronauts, to show how they are prepared to go in the space. In order to have an autonomous
crew medical training is part of the preparation. Finally, the astronaut presented the project of the International Space Station.
Round Tables:
MARS
Moderator: Juan Or. Participants on this table were Frank Drake, Juan Or, Willem Wamsteker, Julin Chela-Flores and Rafael Navarro-Gonzlez. Drake explained the
method used to determine the landing sites for Viking mission, using the Arecibo antenna. Or talked about his personal experience on Viking mission, specially the controversy
about the Labeled Released experiment. Navarro-Gonzlez discussed the available evidence that the white rock detected on Marss surface that could be an ancient stromatolitic structure.
MUSIC OF THE SPHERES: WOULD OTHER INTELLIGENCE ALSO EXHIBIT ARTISTIC CREATIVITY?
Moderators: Juan G. Roeder and Guillermo Lemarchand.
Lecturers who participated in the round table were: Julin Chela-Flores, Jacobo Borges, plastic artist; Diana Arizmendi, musician and coordinator of culture on
Universidad Simn Bolivar and Irene McKinstry, historian of art. Lemarchand briefly explored the links between science and art. Jacobo Borges talked about the relativity of
artistic value and the interactive character of nature. Diana Arizmendi discussed the experience of artistic creation. The history of art was reviewed by Irene McKinstry,
who talked about the art as a product of their time and society. Chela-Flores expressed his conviction that the link between intelligence and artistic creativity would be
present on other intelligent beings. All expositors coincided that art should be a necessary expression of intelligence.
Poster Presentations
Heterogenous radiolysis of succinic acid in the presence of Na-montmorillonite. Maria Coln and Alicia Negrn Mendoza, Mexico.
The goal of their research was
to understand the role of clays during irradiation of organic compounds, specifically, succinic acid. Samples with and without clay were irradiated, their results pointed
to clays could direct some prebiotic reactions and act as energy moderators.
Chemical reactions in solid surfaces. Sergio Ramos, Mexico.
He analyzed solid surfaces as catalysts in chemical reactions. The solid-liquid systems facilitate the occurrence of reactions. He explained the conditions that
energy sources should meet in order to have a good simulation of primitive Earth conditions. Specifically Ramos analyzed the role of radioactive decay of 40K as a possible energy source.
Did prokaryotic DNA content evolved by a series of genome doublings. Sara Islas and Antonio Lazcano, Mexico.
The genome of some microorganisms was analyzed in order to look for a possible duplication of genes. Islas informed that such evidence was not found in the organisms studied.
RNA-binding domains: from the cenancestor to the three domains. Luis Jos Delaye and Antonio Lazcano, Mexico
Their research is focused on look for the attributes of the cenancestor based on molecular fossils. Delaye explained the method they have been used to deduce the cenancestor
genome, by looking for the most conserved proteins in several microorganisms.
Biophysical comparison of planetary habitable zones on Earth and Mars. Abel Mendez, Puerto Rico.
The purpose of Mndez research is to give a global comparison of Earth's and Mars' habitable zones from a biophysical point of view. He analyzed the habitable zones of a
planet considering its temperature and pressure and concluded that physical conditions at 5 km under the sea on Earth are similar to Mars, 5 km beneath its surface.
Does wormholes exist? Diego Torres, Argentina.
He presented some properties of wormholes in order to look for observational evidences that confirm their existence. In
particular Torres analyzed the light curves of gamma ray bursts that can be caused by the presence of wormholes.
Paradoxes of time travel. Gustavo Romero, Argentina.
Romero explained the paradoxes of time travel and their possible solutions. He analyzed the wormholes as time machines.
He concluded that time travel is possible by creating temporal closed curves.
Oceanic accumulation of n-alkanes SYMBOL 179 \f "Symbol" \s 11 C18 in the early Earth.
Vicente Marcano, Pedro Bentez and Ernesto Palacios-Pru, Venezuela. Marcano discussed the possible accumulation of hydrocarbons with 18 or more atoms of carbon in the Earths
primitive oceans. He analyzed the possible sources of these hydrocarbons and the amounts delivered or produced by each one.
Advantages of the alkanes SYMBOL 179 \f "Symbol" \s 11 n-C18 as protectors for the synthesis and survival of critical biomolecules in the early Earth. Pedro Benitez, Venezuela.
Experimental simulations were done in order to asses the existence of thermostable n-alkane environments on the Earths surface (( 3600 Myr) that offer various advantages for
the survival of critical biomolecules. Bentez proposed that his results point out to the possibility that the formation and accumulation of complex molecules may occur in other spatial bodies.
Adsorption and catalysis of organic compounds in Na-Montmorillonite. Andrs Guzmn-Marmolejo and Alicia Negrn-Mendoza
Guzmn-Marmolejo presented preliminary results of
their research on the effects of the ionizing radiation on adenine in the absence and presence of Na-Montmorillonite..
Evidence a of` a nitrogen deficiency as a possible selective pressure towards the origin of biological nitrogen fixation in the early Earth. Leonel Calva-Alejo1,
Delphine Mna Mvondo1, Christopher McKay2 and Rafael Navarro-Gonzlez1, 1Mexico, 2United States.
The role of reactive nitrogen species for the emergence of life was discussed. Calva-Alejo assessed the possible contribution of lightning to the total N-budget in early Mars and Earth.
From laboratory lightning simulations the total production of NO by lightning was estimated.
Possible role of volcanic lightning in the prebiotic chemistry on early Mars.
Antgona Segura and Rafael Navarro-Gonzlez, Mexico.
They reproduced a possible volcanic martian atmosphere and irradiated it with an infrared high power laser in order to simulate volcanic lightning.
Hydrogen cyanide, a key compound for prebiotic synthesis, was obtained.
A plaussible analog of ancient Mars: Tropical alpine environments. Itzel Prez-Chavez1, Christopher McKay2, Luis Cruz Kury1 and Rafael Navarro-Gonzlez1, 1Mexico, 2USA.
Prez-Chavez presented a research project that is being carried out in Pico de Orizaba at Veracruz, Mexico. Pico de Orizaba presents certain environmental characteristics
that makes it a plausible analogous of ancient Mars. This project is focused on nitrogen turnover because nitrogen is an important element for life here on Earth and possibly past life on Mars.
Quantitative study of the effects of various energy sources on a Titan's simulated atmosphere. Sandra Ramrez and Rafael Navarro-Gonzlez, Mexico.
Ramrez presented a series of experiments of the influence of different energy sources on the synthesis organic molecules in a Titan-like atmosphere. The energy sources
used were laser induced plasma (LIP), arc discharge, gamma rays and corona discharges. Energy yields of twenty-eighth hydrocarbons and five nitriles were calculated. Implications
of the results relevant to Titan were discussed.
Collapse of ONeMg electron-degenerate objects and mass extinctions. Jordi Gutirrez-Cabello, Spain.
The physical processes that originate a neutron star were explained. When a neutron star is born it produces a neutrino burst due to deleptonization. The high-energy neutrinos
in the burst can interact with DNA and trigger the origination of malignant foci in biological tissues. So, a nearby gravitational supernova can be a mechanism for massive life extinctions
not associated with Iridium anomalies.
Fossil and recent microbial communities. Elizabeth Chacn, Mexico.
Chacn described a recently discovered 74 My old microbiota associated to stromatolites from the Tarahumara Formation, Mexico. The microbial assemblage shared characteristics
of ancient Proterozoic mat communities and modern microbial mats formed today. The results suggest a non-marine setting for this outcrop.
Live Internet Link-up with Planetfest on the Occasion of the Mars Polar Lander
This event was done on December 3 in collaboration with The Planetary Society and Direccin de Servicios Multimedia de la Universidad Simn Bolvar. Participants on IASA
expected to see the landing of Mars Polar Lander spacecraft on the South Pole of Mars. The mission had as main goal to address the water content in the Red Planet. Thanks to the support
of The Planetary Society we had the opportunity to have a phone call to Pasadena, California where the Planetary Society celebrated the Planetfest99. Over there were Christopher
McKay (NASA Ames Research Center) and Louis Friedman, (The Planetary Society Executive Secretary). They explained the importance of Polar Lander mission and the Mars Microphone
project sent in the spacecraft.
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Reid Thompson's Induction into the University of Kentucky Hall of Distinguished Alumni
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UK Alumni Association
(606) 257-3801
WASHINGTON COUNTY
WASHINGTON COUNTY, KY NATIVE AND ITHACA, NY RESIDENT NAMED TO UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY HALL OF DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI
April 6, 2000 (Lexington, KY) - - The late Dr. W. Reid Thompson, a native of Mackville, KY., and a member of NASA's Voyager II and Galileo imaging teams, is one of
20 new members who will be inducted May 19 into the University of Kentucky Hall of Distinguished Alumni, sponsored by the UK Alumni Association.
Thompson, who died April 22, 1996 at the age of 44 after battling cancer, earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from UK in 1973. His digitally processed
images from the Galileo Spacecraft's "Earth Fly by One" of the rotating earth showing Antarctica and Australia in both visible and infrared light became famous and
appeared on the cover of "Nature" and many other journals.
He was also a Senior Research Associate for the Lab of Planetary Studies at Cornell University, where he earned advanced degrees in chemistry as well as astronomy
and space sciences and later several awards for excellence in teaching. Thompson co-authored numerous scientific research papers with noted scientists in the field included
several with internationally known astronomer and writer, the late Carl Sagan, whom he began working with during his graduate school days. His principal fields of investigation
in planetary studies were the chemical synthesis processes in planetary atmospheres and large scale scientific computation and data visualization. Thompson served as a
scientific mentor to a succession of undergraduate and graduate research assistants. Thompson was a member of several professional societies including: the American
Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Chemical Society, the International Society for the Study and the Origin of Life, Sigma Xi as well as the Division
for Planetary Sciences in the American Geophysical Union and the American Astronomical Society.
Thompson was the youngest child of the late Marvin Peters and Dorothy Wycoff Raybourne Thompson of Mackville, Ky. He is survived by his siblings: Dr. Brenda
Thompson of Richmond, Ky., Mrs. Betty Haydon of Springfield, Ky., and Mrs. Jackie Sutton of Lawrenceburg, Ky.; his fiancee Denise L. Weldon of Ithaca, N.Y.; thirteen
nieces and nephews and several great-nieces and nephews. A science scholarship fund in his memory has been established at Washington County High School in Springfield,
Ky., his alma mater.
The induction of the new members will bring the number of Hall of Distinguished Alumni members to 224, of the more than 203,000 men and women who have
earned degrees from UK.
Every five years distinguished alumni are chosen by a committee consisting of members of the Alumni Association board of directors and members of the Hall
of Distinguished Alumni. Criteria include an earned degree from UK at least 10 years prior to consideration and prominence achieved beyond the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Other Year 2000 inductees are:
Sam Abell, B.A. '69; National Geographic Society photographer
Robert M. Carey, B.S. '62; Dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine
Paul W. Chellgren, B.S. '64; Chairman and CEO of Ashland Inc.
Maurice G. Cook, B.S. '57, M.S. '59; Nationally recognized authority on soil and water conservation practices.
Constantine Deno Curris, B.A. '62, Ed.D. '67; President of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities
David B. Dick, B.A. '56, M.A. '64; Retired news journalist for CBS News
Eugene L. DuBow, B.A. '53; Founding managing director of the American Jewish Committee
Carol Martin Bill Gatton, B.S. '54; Banking and automobile dealer executive and donor of the largest gift ever to the University of Kentucky
and for whom the College of Business and Economics was renamed.
Thomas T. Hammond, B.S. '67; Television network sports announcer
James F. Hardymon II, B.A. '56, M.S. '58; Retired chairman and CEO of Textron
W. James Host, B.A. '61; Founder and CEO of Host Communications
Oliver H. Raymond (deceased), B.S. '54; Founder of Raymond Equipment Company
Arthur B. Still, B.G.S. '80; First-team football All-American and All-Pro in NFL
James W. Stuckert, B.S. '60, M.B.A.'61; Chairman and CEO of Hilliard Lyons Inc.
William B. Sturgill, B.S. '46; Former president of Golden Oak Mining
Chris T. Sullivan, B.S. '72; Founding CEO of Outback Steakhouse
Myra Leigh Tobin, B.S. '62; Retired managing director of J&H Marsh & McLennan
Jefferey A. Van Note, B.A. '70; All-Pro center in NFL
S.J. Sam Whalen, B.S. '49; Retired President and CEO of the Aerobraze Corporation
"All of the inductees have been recognized by
their peers as having reached and remained at the pinnacle of their fields, which include business, science, academics and athletics,"
said Hank Thompson, chair of the Hall of Distinguished Alumni Selection Committee and a former national president of the UK Alumni Association board.
Tickets to the May 19 banquet and ceremonies at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Lexington may be purchased by calling the
UK Alumni Association at (800) 269-ALUM (2586) or (606) 257-7162.
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Research Opportunities
NASA Planetary Biology Internships
The Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA USA, invites applications from graduate students and seniors accepted
to graduate programs for internships to explore scientific questions of global scale about planet Earth.
Interns will receive awards of US$2,200 plus travel to participate in research at NASA centers and collaborating institutions
for approximately 8 weeks. Typical intern programs include: global ecology, remote sensing, microbial ecology, biomineralization,
origin and early evolution of life.
Application deadline: March 1, 2000.
For information/applications contact: Michael Dolan, Planetary Biology Internship, Department of Geosciences,
Box 35820, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-5820. E-mail: Tel: (413) 545-3223. An Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.
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Scientific Forum
A research proposal from Arvydas Tamulis
As the ISSOL Regional representative I would like to propose some ideas written bellow that might contribute investigations
of unindentified fullerene derivative spectrum lines in the interstellar dust and connect this with certain symmetry of carbon
derivatives synthesis in Space and further with the origing of life.
As described in an article in press in the journal Fullerene Science and Technology we are investigating the interactions
between fullerene C60 and solvent molecules (or other molecules that makes complexes with C60). We are carefully "by hands"
performing modeling of complexes. This is pure quantum mechanical approach for complexation investigations based on finding
the lowest total energy during geometry optimization.
The same investigations could be done by our team for ISSOL members interested in fullerene, organic or organometallic
derivatives and solvent molecules. We shall do also some "automatical" solvatation modeling that are programmed in Gaussian 98
new version A.7 using SCRF Keyword including various models: Onsager, Tomasi reaction field (including isodensity), polarizable
conductor, integral equation formalism, reaction field using a cavity determined self-consistently from an isodensity surface.
The last methods are demonstrating quantum mechanical connection with phenomenological phenomena. Some of these methods are new
for me but should be interesting to verify new G98 A.7 possibilities.
The ground state and photoinduced charge transfer processes depend on certain quantum parameters of organic and
organometallic derivatives: point set groups, energies of electron levels, multipole (dipole, quadruple, etc.) moments,
electron affinity, ionization potential, molecular orbitals, electron density, electrostatic-potential derived charges,
bond orders, net atomic charges, overlapping population, free valences, total energy, energy of formation, singlet and triplet
UV/Visible spectra, IR and Raman spectra, polarizabilities, hyperpolarizabilities, magnetic moments, NMR properties,
geometry optimization, atoms in molecules properties, etc
These quantum parameters of organometallic derivatives will be
calculated using quantum chemical methods: ZINDO-CI, Hartree-Fock, MP2, MP3, MP4, MP5, CI, CIS, CASSCF, CASPT2 and Density
Functional Theory models: LYP, BLYP, PW91, Becke3, B3PW91, etc. using GAMESS, DALTON and Gaussian 98 A.7 programmes.
Currently I am performing research on endohedral fullerenes ErSc2N@C80, Sc3N@C80 with molecules ErSc2N and Sc3N
inside C80 cage, C60 dimer C120[2+2] and related derivatives in the University of California, Davis.
These derivatives should be in the interstellar dust and I will perform comparison of my calculated spectra with
spectra of unidentified interstellar dust.
With best regards,
Arvydas Tamulis
Doctor of Natural Sciences, senior research fellow
Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy,
Theoretical Molecular Electronics Research Group,
A. Gostauto 12, Vilnius 2600, Lithuania
fax: +(370-2)-225361 or +(370-2)-224694
Phone: +(370-2)-620861
Quantum Chemical ab initio Search for Novel Molecular Technologies
A. Tamulisa, J. Tamulienea, M.L. Baleviciusb, J.-M. Nunzic, R. Abdreimovad, M. Peruzzinie, A. Grajaf
aInstitute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy, A. Gostauto 12, 2600 Vilnius, Lithuania; bFaculty of Physics,
Vilnius University, Lithuania; cGCO-LETI-CEA, Saclay, France; dIOCE, Almaty, Kazakhstan; eISSECC, Florence, Italy; fIFMPAN, Poznan, Poland
1)a,b,c Quantum Chemical Design of Molecular Logically Controlled Multivariable Anisotropic Random-Walkers
Quantum chemical ab initio density functional theory (DFT) and Hartree-Fock configuration interaction single-excitation
(CIS-HF) methods are used for the geometry optimization in ground and first excited states of both stilbene and Disperse Orange 3
(DO3) azo-dye molecules. The results of light induced molecular motions in these molecules have been used for the design of light driven molecular machines.
Two-, three-, four- and six-variable anisotropic random-walk molecular motor devices are designed from photoactive organic molecules
such as carbazole, 1,4-phenylenediamine (PhDA), TeMePhDA, stilbene, DO3 azo-dye, 4,5-dinitro-9-(dicyanomethylidene)-fluorene (DN9(CN)2F),
TCNB and TCNQ molecules joined with -C2H2- (or with more flexible -N=N-) fragment bridges.
Molecular implementation of organic derivatives
based two-, three-, four-variable logic functions, summators of neuromolecular networks, cells of molecular cellular automata,
molecular trigger - molecular logic devices and molecular devices for electronically genome regulation were designed based on results of
semiempirical and ab initio HF, DFT quantum chemical calculations of the above mentioned electron-donors, electron-insulators, electron-acceptors
as well as fullerene molecules.
The molecular logical devices joined to multivariable anisotropic molecular random-walkers should be capable of moving under
light exposure and therefore represent a new kind of logically controlled molecular motors. Two examples of such molecular logically
controlled motors have been designed and calculated using HF\6-31G method: (1) (Cz-C2H2-)(NH2-)(C6H3)-C2H2-(DN9(CN)2F)-N=N-(C6H4-NO2) and
(2) (Cz-C2H2-)(PhDA-C2H2-)(NH2-)(C6H2)-C2H2-(DN9(CN)2F)-N=N-(C6H4-NO2) and analogous compounds with the more flexible bridge -N=N-.
(1) random-walker is two variable AND logically controlled molecular device and (2) is three different ways two variable AND controlled molecular
random-walker.
2)a,b,d,e Quantum Chemical Investigations of Tetraphosphorus Activation within Coordination Sphere of Transition Metal Complexes
The ecologically friendly catalytic P-O coupling reaction for the synthesis of trialkyl phosphates is proposed.
A slightly distorted octahedral symmetry was used for the design of the initial starting geometry in different transition metal (M = Pt, Pd, Ni) complexes:
(1) [MX3(CH3OH)((2-P4)]-1, (2) [MX3(CH3OH)((2-P4)]+1, (3) [MX3(CH3OH) (H2O)((1-P4)]-1, (4) [MX3(CH3OH)(H2O)((1-P4)]+1,
(5) [MX3(CH3OH)((2-P4)]-1, (6) [MX3(CH3OH)((2-P4)]+1, (7) [MX3(CH3OH)(H2O)((1-P4)]-1, (8) [MX3(CH3OH)(H2O)((1-P4)]+1, (X = Cl, Br).
Suitable conditions for the intersphere nucleophilic attack of the tetraphosphorus P4 molecule by the alkoxide-ion RO- are better
matched with cationic complexes with highly oxidized M(IV) transition metals.
3)a,b,f Quantum Chemical Methods for Investigations of Fullerene C60, CS2, Benzene, Tetrafulvalene Molecules, Li Atom and their Complexes
The geometry and energy of formation of single molecules such as fullerene C60, CS2, benzene and tetrathiofulvalene (TTF) and of their
complexes like C60+CS2, C60+benzene, C60+TTF, C60+Li were obtained using HF and DFT methods with the aim to search for new high conducting organic thin films.
Weak chemical interactions were estimated satisfactorily by using HF\6-31G for a comparison of various geometrical conformations of these complexes.
The energy of formation of the charge-transfer complex C60+TTF has been performed calculating the complex with far-separated molecules.
This Research was supported by CIES and CEA-Saclay, France, European Commission contract ERBIC15CT960746 and Lithuanian Research
and Education Foundation. The authors thanks Dr. N.A. Kotov, Oklahoma State University for the cooperation in using DEC-AXP-OSF/1
computer and installed here Gaussian 94 package. Authors are thankful for Vilnius Technical University and Poznans Supercomputing and Networking Centers.
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