The Astrobiology Journal Club at CIW:

The Astrobiology Journal Club Provides a Virtual, Interdisciplinary, and Lively Research Connection

The Astrobiology Journal Club (AJC) realizes a real-time 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 on 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. Polycom-based videoconference meetings are on Tuesdays at 15:00 ET (14:00 CT, 13:00 MT, 12:00 PT), and the multi-site 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 problems in astrobiology/origins research. Digressions are frequent; debate is vigorous; arguments are tested.

The virtual AJC began in 2002 as a weekly link between the Carnegie Institution of Washington (CIW/NAI) and the New York NSCORT (Albany & Rensselaer). It expanded during 2003 to include UC Boulder, NAI Central, and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (UCLLNL).

If you would like to participate, please contact Nick Platts (s dot platts at gl dot ciw dot edu) and cc Estelle Dodson (kdodson at mail dot arc dot nasa dot gov).