Rice Class to Explore Notion of Extraterrestrial Life

CONTACT: David Kaplan

PHONE: (713) 831-4791

RICE CLASS TO EXPLORE NOTION OF EXTRATERRESTRIAL
LIFE

The notion of extraterrestrial life, including the
possibilitiy of life on Mars, raises a variety of intriguing questions about the
nature of life, how it originates, and where it can exist.

A Rice University School of Continuing Studies course “Origin of Life: Earth,
Mars, and Beyond” will take participants to the heart of the matter. The course,
co-sponsored by the Space and Life Sciences Directorate, Johnson Space Center
(JSC), and the University of Houston, will examine the origin of life from a
scientific vantage, beginning with an overview of cosmic chemistry and the unity
of universal laws of nature.

The nine-week lecture series will feature distinguished scientists from NASA
and academia. The course will run from Jan. 28 to March 25 and is open to the
public.

Laura L. Hsu, assistant dean and director of programs at Rice’s School of
Continuing Studies, said she believes that the possiblity of life on Mars
changes our perspective on life itself and on our own place in the universe.

Joining Hsu as participating lecturers are:

• David S. McKay, spokesperson for the Earth Science and Solar System
  Exploration Division, NASA Johnson Space Center, was the leader of the team that
  discovered possible evidence of life on Mars. Other speakers from NASA JSC
  include Gordon A. McKay, chief, Planetary Science Branch, and Douglas P.
  Blanchard, chief, Earth Science and Solar System Exploration Division.

• Juan Oro, past president of the International Society for the Study of the
  Origin of Life. Oro, professor and past chair, Department of Biochemical and
  Biophysical Sciences, University of Houston, will begin the course with a
  discussion of cosmic chemistry.

• Sidney W. Fox, founding director of the Institute for Molecular and Cellular
  Evolution, University of Miami, now senior research scientist, University of
  South Alabama. A pioneer in experimental and theoretical studies of life, he
  will speak on the experimental evidence of how life could begin under Earth-like
  conditions.

• Patricia H. Reiff, professor and chair, Department of Space Physics and
  Astronomy, Rice University, who will discuss the kind of planetary environment
  that can sustain life.

• Kathleen S. Matthews, professor of biochemistry, Rice University, who will
  speak on the evolutionary process that brought about our origins.

• George Fox, professor of biochemical and biophysical sciences and director,
  Institute for Molecular Biology, University of Houston, speaking on Earth’s
  earliest life.

The series will continue with a discussion of origins of terrestrial life, in
light of chemical, molecular, cellular, and biological evolution. All this will
be a backdrop to ponder recently discovered evidence of possible
extraterrestrial life-on Mars and beyond.

The lectures will take place, on the Rice University campus, on Tuesday
evenings, with the exception of one Monday evening lecture on March 3. To
register for the course call the School of Continuing Studies at 520-6022.

For interviews with “Origin of Life” course lecturers, call David Kaplan at
831-4791. For more information about the course and the Rice Continuing Studies
program, contact Janelle Scott at 527-4803.

The mission of Rice University’s School of Continuing Studies is to broaden
the educational opportunities of the wider community, reflecting the academic
excellence of Rice University. The School of Continuing Studies offers a broad
range of courses in the areas of general education, personal and career
development, and foreign languages. Each year, Rice welcomes nearly 10,000
participants to its campus through Continuing Studies.

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