From: jwee@mail.arc.nasa.gov (Jan Wee)
Subject: FYI: Upcoming Life in the Universe Symposium
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 1996 09:16:34 -0500
Dear discuss-lfm members,
For your information....
Announcing a Symposium
(Second Announcement)
LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE
WHAT IS THE MESSAGE FROM MARTIAN FOSSILS?
November 22, 1996
The Space Policy Institute of George Washington University's
Elliott School of International Affairs, in cooperation with The
Planetary Society and the National Space Society, is organizing
on November 22, 1996 a major symposium discussing the cultural,
intellectual, theological, and policy implications of the recent
announcement of evidence of long-ago life on Mars and the
public's reactions to those findings.
Reacting to the August 7 announcement, President Clinton asked
Vice President Gore to convene a "space summit on the future of
America's space program." The "Life in the Universe" symposium
will provide a way for the public to express its views on the
appropriate government response to the Mars findings prior to the
White House summit.
The all-day symposium will be held at the Dorothy Betts Marvin
Theatre located at 800 21st Street, NW on the campus of The
George Washington University. Admission is free: however,
advance registration is required.
Funding for the symposium is being provided by the sponsors and
the District of Columbia Space Grant Consortium.
REGISTRATION
REGISTRATION IN ADVANCE IS REQUIRED
To register, please provide the following information:
1) Name
2) Organization
3) Phone
4) Fax
5) Email address
via: email: marssymp@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu
OR
fax: (202) 994-1639
OR
mail: Space Policy Institute
George Washington University
2013 G Street, NW, Suite 201
Washington, DC 20052
For up to date information on the symposium, visit home pages of:
Space Policy Institute - http://www.gwu.edu/~spi/
National Space Society - http://www.nss.org
The Planetary Society - http://planetary.org/tps/
PRELIMINARY AGENDA
9:00-9:15 Opening Remarks
9:15-9:45 What Did We Find?
Briefing by Kathie L. Thomas-Keprta, ALH84001
team
9:45-10:15 How Will We Know the Findings are Valid?
From the perspective of a working scientist -
John Grotzinger, Department of Earth,
Atmosphere and Planetary Sciences, MIT
From the perspective of a philosopher of
science - Peter Caws, University Professor of
Philosophy, GW
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:45 Alien Life in Fiction and Fact
- Alien life in science fiction - Kim Stanley
Robinson, author, Red Mars, Green Mars, and
Blue Mars
- Humanity's long-time fascination with
extraterrestrial life - Steven Dick, Naval
Observatory, author, The Biological Universe
11:45-12:15 Critical Factors in New Space Endeavors
Bruce Murray, Vice-President, The Planetary
Society
12:15-1:30 Lunch Break
1:15-2:30 Putting the Findings in Broad Perspective
Panel composed of:
Father John Minogue, President, DePaul
University
Abdel-Monem Al-Mashat, Cultural & Education
Attache, Embassy of Egypt
John Noble Wilford, The New York Times
(Invited)
Molly McCauley, economist, Resources for the
Future
Richard Berendzen, astrophysicist, American
University
2:30-3:00 International Interest and Response
Roald Sagdeev, University of Maryland,
former Director, Space Research
Institute, Moscow
3:00-3:15 Break
3:15-4:30 What Response? Public Interest Perspectives
Robert Zubrin, Chair, Executive
Committee, National Space Society
Louis Friedman, Executive Director, The
Planetary Society
Results of an Internet Survey - Space
Policy Institute
Other views
4:30-5:00 Next Steps: Reflecting the Public Interest
NASA Administrator Dan Goldin
********************************************************************
John M. Logsdon Phone - (202)994-7292
Director, Space Policy Institute and Fax - 994-1639
Center for International Science and Technology
Policy
George Washington University
Washington, DC 20052
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Louis Friedman TPS.LDF@MARS.PLANETARY.ORG
The Planetary Society FAX: 818-793-5528 http://planetary.org/tps/
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