Reply to Attn of:

iNational Aeronautics and CC) 4
‘Space Administration (

         
     

ELLER Uy
Ames Research Center Ke poet VERS
Moffett Field, California 2131979 ?
94035 MAR 13 1973 é _s
. 0,
SL Bud wed Lice oF tye PRES
LXI: 204-2 February 28, 1979 L

Dr. Joshua Lederberg

President, The Rockefeller Institute
1213 York Avenue

New York, NY 10021

Dear Dr. Lederberg:

I would like to invite you to attend a bonterence on Life in the Universe,
to be held at NASA-Ames Research Center, Mountain ew, Cattfornia;-or

June 19 and 20, 1979. A preliminary agenda is enclosed.

 

The primary purpose of the Conference is to lay the foundation for compre-
hensive, multidisciplinary research into the problem of the nature and
distribution of life in the universe. There are at least two complementary
approaches to this problem: 1) to attempt directly to identify and study
extraterrestrial life-sites by astronomical techniques, and 2) to try to
formulate a theory of the origin and evolution of life in terms of the
environmental phenomena - planetary, stellar, and astrophysical - responsible
for them. Therefore, we have included on the agenda papers dealing with both.
We particulary hope that the Conference will produce discussion concerning
whether there are specific environmental phenomena that are required if life
is to evolve to a certain stage within a particular period of time, and
whether life marks planets or planetary systems with observable character-
istics.

You will note that the agenda has allocated time for a limited number of
contributed papers. These will be selected on the basis of abstracts received
prior to April 10, and you are encouraged to submit one if you feel it can
shed light on some of the problems to be addressed. You should plan on
talking for 8 to 9 minutes, with 1 or 2 additional minutes for questions.

It will be especially valuable if, in your talk, you can identify research
that ought to be pursued.

You will be notified whether your abstract has been accepted on or shortly
after May 1. At that time the final Conference agenda will also be mailed
out.

Please notify me of any of your colleagues whom you think ought to attend
(admission to the Conference is by invitation only).

. atkegid ei
ST AP — Geers 042) Bedford jitass. Aegerd ry
LX1I:204-2 - February 28, 1979 2

If you choose not to submit an abstract, but still plan to attend, please
so indicate on the enclosed Conference Registration Form. All registrations
must be received by May 1, 1979.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours truly,

Bute SSL!

Mark A. Stull
Acting Chief, SETI Program Team

Enclosures:

1. Preliminary Conference Agenda
2 Conference Registration Form
3. Dinner Reservation Form

4. Lodging Information