Exploring Mars Habitability

When and Where
The International Conference:  Exploring Mars Habitability will be held at the Tivoli Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal, on June 13-15, 2011, just prior to the International Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group meeting (MEPAG), on June 16-17, 2011. A field trip to Rio Tinto will be organized on June 17-19, 2011.
 
Purpose and Scope
The conference will focus on the habitability of Mars, both ancient and modern.  The effects of planetary evolution, atmospheric evolution, climate cycles, and transitory events on the habitability of Mars are of key interest. These help to address the origin of life both on Mars and on Earth, as well as its potential for preservation.  Upcoming missions (e.g., MSL, MAVEN, Exomars orbiter and rover) will address many of these issues. Suggested strategies as to how these missions will address current and past habitability of Mars are welcome.

Call for Papers
Abstracts (one page) may be submitted for oral or poster presentation.  Topics related to the habitability of Mars, ancient and modern, as well as how to explore the habitability of Mars, are the focus of the meeting.  Suggested topics are listed below, but other topics related to exploring the past and present habitability of Mars are also welcome.

Suggested Topics
1.   Ancient habitability and its relationship to the long-term evolution of Mars. Preservation/destruction of the evidence through geologic time
2.   The possible effects that the planet's internal structure (magnetic field, volcanism, cooling, atmospheric loss, etc.) and movements (precession, nutation, etc.) may have had on habitability issues.
3.   Recent habitability associated with obliquity-driven cyclic glacial processes.
4.   Habitability associated with specific transitory environments (impact craters, active volcanoes, other?).
5.   Modern habitability and the possibility of extant life.

Workshop Format
The conference will consist of both invited and contributed talks, with
ample time for discussion, and posters.

For further information please contact Olivier Witasse.