The Astrobiology Journal Club realizes a virtual and live connection
between several institutions where there's an emphasis on
astrobiological and/or origins-related research (especially NAI Lead Teams &
NSCORTs). The meeting is open to graduate students, undergraduate students,
post-docs and faculty; and is comprised of physicists, astronomers, geologists,
geochemists, biologists, microbiologists,
biochemists, chemists and engineers.
Presentations/discussions are usually based around a published scientific
paper, and sometimes a group member's own draft paper or results. Membership
is entirely without obligation, and anyone is welcome to suggest a paper
for discussion. Meetings are on Tuesdays (15:00 ET; 14:00 CT 13:00 MT; 12:00 PT), and the multi-center connection is
hosted by NAI Central at NASA Ames.
The presenter usually tries to provide non-specialists in the group with a
'short-cut' background to the paper's subject matter, and then proceeds to
explain its relevance in the context of current research problems in astrobiology/origins.
Digressions are frequent; debate is vigorous; arguments are tested.
The virtual AJC began in 2002 as a weekly link between the Carnegie Institution
(CIW/NAI) and the New York NSCORT (Albany & Rensselaer). It expanded during
2003 to include UCBoulder, NAI Central, and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory
(UCLLNL).
Last meeting's paper...
Tuesday, June 17 @ 12 PST:
R.M.E. Mastrapa, H. Glanzberg, J.N. Head, H.J. Melosh, W.L. Nicholson,
" Survival of bacteria exposed to extreme acceleration: implications for
panspermia" Earth and Planetary Science Letters 189 (2001) 1-8
Previous Discussions:
Watson, J.S., Pearson,V.K.,
Gilmour,I. & Sephton,M.A. (2003)
" Contamination by sesquiterpenoid derivatives in the Orgueil
carbonaceous chondrite", Org. Geochem. (2003) 34, 37-47.
" Cosmic Ray Diffusion from the Galactic Spiral Arms, Iron Meteorites,
and a Possible Climate Connection", by Shaviv, N.J. (2002) Physical
Review Letters 89 (No.5), 29 July 2002 (051102-1/4).