NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)

April 15 2011 NAI Executive Council Agenda

10:00 Remembering Barry Blumberg: open forum for all to reminisce about Barry and what he meant to us, as our NAI founding Director, tireless advocate for astrobiology, and our friend

NAI Central has written a remembrance of Barry and posted it online
http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/articles/nai-central-remembers-barry/

Information about the service for Barry on Sunday, April 10, in Philadelphia is online
http://www.levinefuneral.com/notices/index.html

NASA Ames is planning a west-coast memorial for Barry in the coming weeks; we will provide more information as it becomes known

10:30 “New media” discussion

Over the past few months we all have become aware of the increasing role of social media, blogs and other internet activity in the rapid dissemination of information, including science results. Some of the questions that we would like discuss next Friday are: What action, if any, should the NAI take to address or adapt to the evolving landscape of online communication? Are there mechanisms or plans that we should put in place? Should we bring in experts to discuss this with us, and if so whom? (See names and links below for two examples.) If we want to pursue this, what would be the best forum (a dedicated videocon with the EC, a Workshop Without Walls on the subject)? Other?

Robert Irion http://news.ucsc.edu/2010/01/3507.html
Chris Mooney http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Mooney_%28journalist%29

10:50 Draft Agenda for May in-person meeting (which we will circulate before the videocon next week)

11:00-11:30 Round table (please plan to be brief)
Round-table announcements from each team, on the following: a) new research publications, b) upcoming field expeditions, c) new members, d) mission related activities (workshops/planning groups), e) E/PO events and f) any other information you wish to impart to the EC.