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The NASA Astrobiology Program today announces the selection of eight new interdisciplinary research teams, inaugurating its Interdisciplinary Consortia for Astrobiology Research (ICAR) program.
The breadth and depth of research by these teams spans the spectrum of astrobiological research, from cosmic origins to the formation of the planetary system, the origins and evolution of life, and the pursuit of life beyond Earth.
ICAR is a new organizational structure for the NASA Astrobiology Program, developed over time to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving field with an expanded reach and emerging questions driven by two decades of research and discovery in astrobiology. The program supports an interdisciplinary approach to a single compelling question in astrobiology, collectively addressing the goals of the agency’s astrobiology strategy.
“We are excited about these additions to the astrobiology research portfolio,” said Lori Glaze, Director of NASA’s Division of Planetary Sciences. “The astrobiology community continues to grow and is increasing its contributions to the planning and implementation of flight missions of the NASA Science Mission Directorate. These new teams are key to ensuring that astrobiology objectives are integrated consistently into those missions. future “.
The awarded teams are:
Betul Kacar, University of Arizona: What Life Wants: Exploring the Natural Selection of Elements
Daniel Apai, University of Arizona: Alien Lands: Which nearby planetary systems are likely to host habitable planets and life?
Kevin Stevenson, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, Laurel, Maryland: The M-dwarf Opportunity: Characterizing Near M-dwarf Habitable Zone Planets
Timothy Lyons, University of California, Riverside: Alternative Earths – How to Build and Sustain a Detectable Biosphere
Burckhard Seelig, University of Minnesota: Emergence of a Complex Biochemical System: Evolutionary Aspects of the Path to Coded Protein Synthesis
Sara Walker, Arizona State University: Planetary Systems Biochemistry
Donald Burke, University of Missouri: Bringing RNA to Life – Emergence of Biological Catalysis
Natalie Batalha, University of California, Santa Cruz: Follow the Volatiles: Tracking Chemical Species Relevant to Habitability from Proto-planetary Disks to Exoplanet Atmospheres
ICAR completes another evolution of NASA’s astrology program infrastructure, the Research Coordination Networks (RCNs). The RCNs build on the success of previous organizational iterations and funding mechanisms from the Astrobiology Program and the Division of Planetary Sciences, most notably NASA’s Institute of Astrobiology. Those groundbreaking programs were vital to establishing astrobiology as a respected scientific field and contributing to technological development to explore worlds beyond Earth to assess habitability and the pursuit of life.
“As we move forward, ICAR and RCN will continue to cultivate and express these and new values, including greater influence on the mission and a strong and diverse future workforce.” said Mary Voytek, senior scientist and leader of NASA’s astrobiology program.
Over the past two decades, the astrobiology community has crystallized around its values of collaboration, mission relevance, early career scientist development, and excellence in interdisciplinary communications.
The goal of NASA’s astrobiology program is the study of the origins, evolution and distribution of life in the universe. The program is central to NASA’s continued exploration of our solar system and beyond, and supports research into the origin and early evolution of life, life’s potential to adapt to different environments, and implications for life elsewhere. NASA, together with the scientific community, has developed an Astrobiology Strategy that describes the scientific goals and objectives of NASA’s Astrobiology Program.
Learn more about NASA’s astrobiology program: https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/
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