MARTIAN METEORITES: WHERE DO WE STAND, AND WHERE ARE WE GOING?

November 2-4, 1998

THIRD ANNOUNCEMENT
June 1998

Dedicated to the memory of Jurgen Rahe

The purpose of the workshop will be to assess where we stand regarding the martian meteorite ALH 84001, and to identify key research activities involving meteorites, terrestrial samples, and Mars that will illuminate our understanding of the issues raised by ALH 84001. These issues include, but are not limited to, the possibility of life on Mars at any time during its history.

The workshop will place heavy emphasis on discussion centered around a limited number of subtopics. A half-day session will be devoted to each subtopic. Each session will begin with a 40-minute invited overview presentation followed by a 20-minute discussion period.

These overview presentations will be followed by 20-minute invited talks that will allow the speakers to use any and all data to make their case, not just data developed by their own research team. These speakers, along with the overview speaker, will then form a discussion panel. To encourage and enhance the panel discussion, audience members will be allowed the opportunity to show one slide to make a point.

Contributed presentations will be limited to an evening poster session on the second day.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Researchers in all appropriate scientific disciplines are invited to submit abstracts for contributed poster presentation. Abstracts should not exceed two pages (including figures, tables, and references), and should be submitted electronically to the Lunar and Planetary Institute by August 7, 1998, 5.00 p.m. (CDT). Contributors are asked to indicate which of the following topics most closely encompasses their work: (1) Allan Hills 84001; (2) Signs of Life: Biomarkers and Biogenicity; (3) Key Research: Life on Earth; (4) Key Research: Meteorites and Planetary Geology; and (5) The Future Search for Life on Mars. Abstracts from invited speakers are subject to the same deadline and length requirement.

Abstracts will be published in a volume that will be part of the registration package at the meeting. In addition, the preliminary program and abstracts will be placed on line no later than September 18, 1998. Abstracts will be in PDF format, viewable with version 3 of the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded free of charge from the Adobe home page.

ABSTRACT DEADLINES

Deadline for hard-copy submissions
July 31, 1998, 5:00 p.m. (CDT)

Deadline for electronic submissions
August 7, 1998, 5:00 p.m. (CDT)

PREPARATION OF ABSTRACTS

The deadline for RECEIPT of electronic abstracts is 5:00 p.m. CDT, August 7, 1998. Abstracts can be submitted in any of the following formats: Microsoft Word 6, 7, or 8 for PC; Microsoft Word 5 or 6 for Mac; and Rich Text Format (RTF). Postscript files will be accepted only from authors who CANNOT submit files in one of the formats listed, and those authors will be contacted to provide the text of their abstract so it doesn't have to be reinput for production of the volume. Please read and follow the instructions provided for preparation and submission of your abstract. Templates are also provided for your convenience.

Note: The electronic abstract submission form is only supported by Netscape Navigator (version 2.0 or higher) and Internet Explorer (version 4.0 ONLY). If you are using any other browser, you will not be able to electronically submit your abstract. Please contact your systems administrator for assistance in downloading and installing one of these browsers on your machine.

WARNING: Electronic transmission of files is not always instantaneous; gateways can temporarily be shut down, local routers can fail, network traffic can be very heavy, etc. Because your abstract file must be RECEIVED at the LPI by 5:00 p.m. CDT, it's in your best interest to submit early to allow for possible delays in transmission. The server will be VERY busy on the day of the deadline. DO NOT wait until the last minute to access the system; access to the Web form will TERMINATE at 5:00 p.m. CDT.

REGISTRATION

A fee of $60 ($40 for students) will be assessed each participant to cover workshop services. If paying with a credit card, you may use the electronic preregistration form or you may print out the downloadable preregistration form and mail it in with your payment. You must preregister and prepay by October 2, 1998, to avoid the $20 late fee. Foreign participants who state on the preregistration form that they have a currency exchange problem may pay in cash at the meeting and avoid the $20 late fee if they return the form by October 2, 1998. Requests for cancellation and a refunded fee will be accepted through October 23, 1998.

Walk-in registration will be available beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, November 2, 1998. The rate for walk-in registration will be $80 ($60 for students), which includes the $20 late fee mentioned above. A continental breakfast will be served during this hour prior to the start of the technical presentations on Monday and for one-half hour (beginning at 8:00 a.m.) on Tuesday and Wednesday.

LOGISTICS

For your convenience we have provided information on the Clear Lake area, a list of local hotels and a local area map. Additional information regarding the times and locations for workshop events, telephone numbers for participant contacts, etc., will be included in the final announcement, to be mailed in late July.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Questions regarding the technical content of the meeting should be directed to David Black (black@lpi.usra.edu).

For information regarding abstract submission, contact Reneé Dotson, Publications and Program Services, Lunar and Planetary Institute, 3600 Bay Area Boulevard, Houston TX 77058-1113 (phone: 281-486-2188; fax: 281-486-2125; e-mail: dotson@lpi.usra.edu).

For information regarding workshop logistics, contact LeBecca Simmons, Publications and Program Services, Lunar and Planetary Institute, 3600 Bay Area Boulevard, Houston TX 77058-1113 (phone: 281-486-2158; fax: 281-486-2160; e-mail: simmons@lpi.usra.edu).

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