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September 29-30, 2015, NAI EC In-person Meeting

The NAI Executive Council meeting on September 29-30, 2015 will be held in Madison, Wisconsin and hosted by the University of Wisconsin team.

NAI Central POC: Jeni Ornelas 650-279-0939 (cell)

Please register for your meeting attendance with NAI here. We use this information for meeting planning and communication.

Where

The NAI EC meeting will be held in the Industry A+B Meeting Room
Union South
1308 W. Dayton St.
Madison, WI 53715
https://www.union.wisc.edu/visit-unionsouth.htm

Travel Planning

Taking the Bus from O’Hare Airport (Chicago, IL) to Madison, WI
Board the bus at the main bus/shuttle center at O’Hare, centrally located and easy to find. Get off at the last stop in Madison, at 800 University Ave. From there it is a 20 minute walk to Hotel Red, or you can call a taxi to pick you up at the bus stop. Link to Van Galder bus schedule.

Driving from O’Hare Airport (Chicago, IL) to Madison, WI
The drive takes about 2-2.5 hours. Make sure to have cash ready for Illinois tolls.

Flying from O’Hare Airport to Dane County Regional Aiport (Madison, WI)
Allow for at least a 2 hour layover between connecting flights. Once arrived, you can call to arrange a courtesy vehicle to HotelRed.

Lodging Reservations

HotelRed
1501 Monroe Street, Madison, WI 53711
Hotel: (608) 819-8228 Fax: (608) 333-4068 Email: dos@hotelRED.com
http://www.hotelred.com

Room Block Name: UW NASA Astrobiology
Room Block Dates: Mon, Sep 28 – Wed, Sep 30
Room Rate: $199
Room Block Reservation Deadline: Tues, Aug 25

Schedule

Tuesday, September 29

08:00-08:30 BREAKFAST

08:30-08:45 Welcome and Introductions

08:45-10:30 NAI Annual Report: Why, How and What
– Download the Annual Report Slides

10:30-11:00 BREAK

11:00-12:15 Integrating Research Themes: Report-out from Science Working Groups
– Environmental Change and Biosignatures
– Habitable Planetary States, the Evolution of Microbial Life, and their Astronomical Biosignatures
– Planetary Inventory of Organics and Water, and the Origin of Life
– Serpentinizing Systems
– GeoBioCell Applications
– Evolution of Complex Life

12:15-01:00 LUNCH for PIs

01:00-01:45 PI in camera Session (Team PIs only)

01:45-02:15 Report-out from in camera Session (EC, NAI Central, NASA HQ only)

02:15-03:30 SYNERGY SUBGROUP DISCUSSION, FREE DISCUSSION AND BREAK

3:30-04:00 Update from NASA HQ (Remote)

04:00-05:00 Integrating Research Themes (All)

05:00-06:15 Group Picture

05:15 Adjourn

06:15 Mixer

07:00 GROUP DINNER

Dinner Location:
Steenbock’s on Orchard
330 N. Orchard St.
Madison, WI

Meal selection must be placed by Friday, Sept 18th. Please see the menu and place your selection on the Sept 2015 EC Meeting Registration Page.

Wednesday, September 30

08:00-08:30 BREAKFAST

08:30-10:30 University of Wisconsin Team Science Presentations
– 08:30-08:50 Clark Johnson: Introduction & Overview
– 08:50-09:10 Richard Quinn: Biomarkers Stability in Space Environments
– 09:10-09:30 Brian Beard: Developing Isotope Biosignatures and Habitability Proxies: A test case using Mg isotopes
– 09:30-09:50 Huifang Xu: Sweet spots for the formation of low-temperature dolomite
– 09:50-10:10 Eric Roden: Linking genomic and geochemical signatures of Fe-based microbial life
– 10:10-10:30 John Valley: In situ analysis of carbon isotopes in organic matter

10:30-11:00 BREAK

11:00-12:00 Other Institute Business
– E/PO within the NAI
– In-person meeting schedule for 2016
– Other

12:00-12:50 LUNCH

01:00-04:00 Tour of University of Wisconsin Labs and Facilities

04:00 Depart for airport

Optional Dinner for EC members staying until Thursday, details TBD