Final Announcement — December 2013

Meeting Location and Date

The Workshop on the Habitability of Icy Worlds will be held February 5–7, 2014, at the Westin Pasadena, 191 North Los Robles, Pasadena CA 91101.

Purpose and Scope

The primary objective of this workshop will be to focus on the astrobiological potential of icy worlds in the outer solar system — including Europa, Ganymede, Enceladus, Titan, and beyond — with discussion on future research directions and spacecraft missions that can best assess that potential. The agenda for the workshop will be organized around thematic sessions that address the potential habitability of the unique planetary environments of the outer solar system. Presentations on research involving terrestrial analogs for icy world environments are also encouraged.

Meeting Format

The format of the workshop will be two-and-a-half days of presentations and discussion, divided into thematic sessions:

• Water and exotic solvents
• Chemical energy for life
• Organics and their detection
• Ocean physics and chemistry
• Icy world activity and habitability over time
• Continuing and future outer solar system exploration

Information for Presenters

Oral Presentations —
A PC laptop, LCD projector, and speaker remote will be available for presentation of oral presentations during the scientific sessions. In order to facilitate a smooth transition between speakers, all presentations will be preloaded and tested in advance. To aid the preloading process, create a folder on your flash drive/CD called “IcyWorld 2014” and place your PowerPoint presentation in that folder. Please include your last name in the naming of your presentation file. An IT technician will be available each morning before the session begins, during breaks, and during lunch to assist in loading your talk.

Hardware and Software Specifications —
The plenary room will be equipped with the following minimum hardware and software:

Poster Presentations —
All posters will be available for viewing throughout the workshop.

Registration

Credit card registrations:  Participants registering by credit card MUST use the secure electronic registration form.

Other methods of payment:  Those registering using any other method of payment (check, money order, traveler’s check, or wire transfer) must contact the USRA Meeting Registrar for detailed instructions.

Third-Party Payments:  Participants required to register using a third party (e.g., SATERN for NASA civil servants) should still register in advance using the electronic registration form. The confirmation e-mail you receive after registering will include payment instructions to submit to the third party. Please be aware, however, that your registration will not be considered complete until the funds have been received.

Cancellations:  Requests for cancellation with a fee refund (less a 10% processing fee) will only be accepted through January 27, 2014. Those who fail to attend and do not notify USRA prior to the January 27 deadline will forfeit their full fee.

Check-in:  The workshop registration desk at The Westin Pasadena will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.

Accommodations

The Westin Pasadena is holding a block of 70 rooms per night for this meeting. A special daily rate of $189.00 plus applicable taxes (15.09% state and local taxes), single or double occupancy, will be available for one day prior to the meeting dates. There is a $15.00 charge for each additional adult in the room. Of the 70 available rooms, 10 rooms will be available at the prevailing federal per diem rate of $133.00 plus applicable taxes (15.09% state and local taxes), single or double occupancy (this rate is also valid for one day prior to the meeting dates). The government-rate rooms will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Government employees will be required to show their government ID at check-in.

Check-in time is 3:00 p.m.; check-out time is 12:00 p.m. Guests arriving prior to check-in will be accommodated as rooms become available. The hotel will accommodate late check-outs subject to space availability.

** To ensure a room at the special rate, reservations MUST be made by 5:00 p.m. local time on January 4, 2014. After that date, any unsold rooms will be released back to the hotel inventory, and guests who make reservations after that date will be charged according to available rates. **

Smoke-Free Policy:   The Westin Pasadena is a smoke-free hotel. Restaurants on the property that are not operated by the hotel may not participate in the smoke-free policy. To protect the smoke-free environment, the hotel will post a $200.00 cleaning fee to the account of any guests who smoke in their guest room.

Cancellations:   If you cancel before 6:00 p.m. hotel time the day before your arrival, there will be no forfeiture amount. If you cancel after 6:00 p.m. hotel time the day before your arrival, the forfeiture amount will be a 1 night stay.

Early departure fee:  Guests will be required to advise the hotel at or before check-in of any change in the reserved length of stay. Changes made after check-in will be subject to an early departure fee of $100.00 to be charged to the guest's individual account.

Room reservations:  To reserve a room, call 1-800-937-8461 and reference “Icy Worlds.”

To reserve a room online, use the following reservation link:
            Online Reservation Form

Parking: The hotel has parking available as follows (charged per car, subject to change without notice):

Hotel attendants can provide directions to the nearest available parking area if the hotel lot is full.

Contacts

For further information regarding the scientific content of the meeting:

David Senske
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Phone: 818-393-7775
E-mail: [email protected]

For further information regarding meeting details or announcements:

Katy Buckaloo
Meeting and Publication Services
USRA Houston
Phone: 281-486-2106
E-mail: [email protected]

For further information regarding registration:

Linda Tanner
Meeting and Publication Services
USRA Houston
Phone: 281-486-2142
E-mail: [email protected]

Schedule