LPI logo

Meeting Planning Services

Call for Abstracts

Because the Mars Extant Life:  What’s Next? conference was rescheduled due to the government shutdown, the abstract submission process has been reopened to ensure a final program composed of presenters who will actually be in attendance during the new dates of November 5–8, 2019.

If you previously submitted an abstract, you can submit an updated version. If you submitted an abstract for the conference as it was initially scheduled, but will not be able to attend on the new dates, we encourage you to reclassify your abstract as “print-only,” rather than withdrawing it, to allow continued inclusion of your abstract. New abstracts that were not part of the original submission process are welcome.

The conference program and abstracts and author index, as prepared for the originally-scheduled dates of January 29–February 1, will remain online until the program for the new dates of November 5–8, 2019 is finalized.


New or Revised Abstracts are being solicited which focus on the following topics:

  • Candidate environmental niches for hypothesized Mars extant life
  • Use of terrestrial analogs to prioritize and interpret candidate sites and/or investigation strategies
  • Measuring signatures of present life as we know it
  • Measuring signatures of present life as we don’t know it
  • Strategies for extant life detection that account for forward contamination
  • Testing the hypotheses:  Investigation strategies that require sample acquisition (either in situ or sample return)
  • Testing the hypotheses:  Investigation strategies that don’t require sample acquisition
  •  Instruments and technologies for detecting extant life: strengths, limitations, and projected improvements.
  • Mission Concepts/Strategies (robotic and/or in association with human missions)
  • Other


New, Revised, or Withdrawn Abstract Deadline:  Thursday, August 22, 2019,
5:00 p.m. U.S. Central Daylight Time (GMT -5)

  • No late abstracts will be accepted, regardless of the reason.
  • Abstracts sent by e-mail will not be considered.
  • Abstracts are limited to one page.
  • All abstracts must be submitted in PDF format.
  • All abstracts must be submitted in U.S. letter size format (8.5” × 11”) and include a one-inch margin on all four sides; A4 submissions will be rejected by the system.
  • Abstract file sizes must be no larger than 3 MB; larger files will be automatically rejected by the system.
  • If not using the template provided, leave a one-inch margin on all four sides of your document.


Authors are encouraged to start the submission process early so the LPI staff will have time to provide assistance in the event of technical problems. For technical assistance, contact Debbie Mitchell (281-486-2106) or send an e-mail message to [email protected].

Unable to Produce PDF Files?  Authors who are unable to produce a PDF file may send their source files (must be in Word or PostScript format) to LPI no later than August 15, 2019. A PDF file will be created and returned to the author, but it is the author’s responsibility to submit the PDF file by the time of the abstract deadline. Source files should be sent to [email protected].

If you need to revise your abstract (prior to the deadline only):  If you discover an error and need to replace your abstract file, or correct the information submitted on the form, return to the abstract submission portion of the meeting portal and click on the “Update” link that appears next to the title of the abstract you submitted.

Preparation and Submission of Abstracts
Step 1:   Download the appropriate template
Step 2:   Write the abstract (no more than one page) using the format shown in the template
Step 3:   Create a PDF file (no larger than 3 MB)
Step 4:   Fill out the electronic abstract submission form and upload the abstract file

In addition to field trip activities on Wednesday, November 6, the conference program will consist of oral presentations, lightning talks, small- and large-group discussions, afternoon poster sessions, and wrap-up discussions.

Tuesday, November 5 Oral presentations, lightning talks, formation of small groups, poster session
Wednesday, November 6 3/4-day field trip to Carlsbad Caverns, coupled with several afternoon field options in the area
Thursday, November 7 Oral presentations, poster session, small group activity
Friday, November 8
Half Day
Oral presentations, small group reports, discussion, wrap-up, and planning for next steps


Bob Bruner, Denver Museum of Nature and Science volunteer, will be onsite with exhibits:
     Meteorites and Minerals Associated with the Origin of Life
     Understanding the Origin of Life
     Percival Lowell Life on Mars Advocate Over 100 Years Ago

Early morning and afternoon coffee breaks will be provided. Participants are on their own for breakfast and lunch. 

Oral Presentation Information

Oral presentations are scheduled for 12 minutes per talk with an additional 3 minutes allotted for question and answer.

A PC laptop, LCD projector, and speaker remote will be available for oral presentations. In order to facilitate a smooth transition between speakers, all presentations need to be preloaded onto the session room laptop each morning 7:45–8:15 a.m. and during breaks.

To aid in the preloading process, a folder labeled “Mars Extant Life” will be available on the presentation laptop. Using a flash drive, copy your presentation into this folder. Please include your last name in the naming of your presentation file.

Hardware and Software Specifications for Oral Presentations —

The plenary room will be equipped with a laptop computer that has Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Reader. Please design your oral presentation to work with these programs

Poster Presentation Information

Poster Set-up in Exhibit Hall: Tuesday, November 5, 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Poster Sessions Tuesday, November 5, 3:25–4:00 p.m. (to be confirmed)
Thursday, November 7, 2:55–3:25 p.m. (to be confirmed)
Poster Removal: By Friday, November 8, 1:00 p.m.
Poster Size: 44" × 44" (112 cm × 112 cm) maximum
Materials Provided: Pushpins


Note:  Any posters left after the conference will be discarded.

Note: All electronic submission forms are part of the Meeting Portal, which requires users to set up a personal profile to access our electronic forms (setting up a profile is quick and easy, requiring only a few minutes of your time).