NASA, Library of Congress Establish Honorary Astrobiology Chair

Nov. 30, 2011

Steve Cole
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0918
stephen.e.cole@nasa.gov

Michael Mewhinney
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field Calif.
650-604-4789
michael.mewhinney@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 11-352

NASA, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ESTABLISH HONORARY ASTROBIOLOGY CHAIR

WASHINGTON -- NASA and the Library of Congress have established the
Baruch S. Blumberg NASA-Library of Congress chair in Astrobiology at
the Library's scholarly research organization, the John W. Kluge
Center in Washington. The chair is named for the late Nobel Laureate
and founding director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, Baruch
"Barry" Blumberg.

Astrobiology is the study of the origins, evolution, distribution and
future of life in the universe. Astrobiology addresses three
fundamental questions: How did life begin and evolve? Is there life
elsewhere? What is the future of life on Earth and beyond?

Blumberg was awarded the 1976 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine
for discovery of the Hepatitis B virus and development of a vaccine
to prevent Hepatitis B infection. He served as the NASA Astrobiology
Institute director from 1999 to 2002. The institute's mission is to
promote interdisciplinary research in astrobiology, train the next
generation of astrobiologists, provide scientific and technical
leadership for NASA space missions, and share astrobiology's
discoveries with learners of all ages.

"Relationships with external research organizations are critical to
NASA's success as a leader in science and technology," NASA Chief
Scientist Waleed Abdalati said. "Opportunities like the Blumberg
chair really help strengthen those relationships."

At the Library of Congress, Blumberg was a founding member of the
Scholar's Council, a 12-member group of distinguished scholars which
advises the Librarian of Congress on matters of scholarship.

"This collaboration between NASA and the Library of Congress is an
unparalleled opportunity to broaden public discourse on the
intersection of astrobiology and its societal implications," said
NASA Astrobiology Institute Director Carl Pilcher of NASA's Ames
Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif. "Astrobiology uses the tools
of modern science to address questions with philosophical, ethical
and theological implications. The chair will be able to use the vast
resources of the Library of Congress to explore these issues."

An annual international competition will be held to select a
chairperson, who will serve in residence at the Kluge Center for up
to one year, beginning in fall 2012.

Likely research topics include the societal implications of
discovering life beyond Earth, exploring whether life is rare in the
universe, or the ways astrobiology influences and is influenced by
culture.

"For many years, Barry worked in his inimitable and energetic way to
connect scholars from astrobiology with those studying the
humanities," said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. "We are
delighted to be moving forward with this important opportunity to
examine the societal implications of this frontier field."

Applications for the chair will be solicited by the Library of
Congress and reviewed by a panel jointly established by the library
and NASA. The first selection will be announced in spring 2012.

For more information about the NASA Astrobiology Program and the NASA
Astrobiology Institute, visit:

http://astrobiology.nasa.gov

For more information about the Kluge Center of the Library of
Congress, visit:

http://www.loc.gov/loc/kluge

-end-

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