Habitability of Planets Orbiting M Stars

18 - 20 July 2005

SETI Institute

OVERVIEW OF THE THREE DAYS

DAY1

8:00 Opening Session

Registration, Welcome and Announcements

Overview Talks: Cross-discipline Information

Organization and Goals for Workgroups

10:00 First Workgroups Session: Identifying the Issues

1:00 Second Workgroups Session: Preparing Reports: What are the questions?

3:00 General Session: Refining the Questions

DAY 2

9:30 Third Workgroups Session: Refining the Issues for Research

11:30 General Session: Progress Reports

1:00 Fourth Workgroups Sessions: Refining the Issues - Continued

3:00 General Session

DAY 3

9:00 Final Workgroups Session:

What research is needed?

What can be done in 18 months?

10:00 General Session: The Next Steps

Are there show stoppers, i.e., can M stars host habitable planets?

Discussion and Assignments

Plans for collaboration and the next workshop

12:00 Adjourn

DETAILED AGENDA

Monday, 18 July 2005

8:00 Registration / Coffee / Breakfast Entrance Corridor

8:30 Opening Session Arecibo Room

Welcome and Announcements 10 min

Overview Talks: Cross-discipline Information

M Stars 20 min

Planets and Atmospheres 20 min

Life 20 min

Organization and Goals for Workgroups 20 min

10:00 Coffee Entrance Corridor

10:30 First Workgroup Session: Identifying the Issues

M Stars Hat Creek Room

Spectra / Metalicity

Flares / Starspots / Corona

Changes with spectral type

Changes with age

Nominal habitable zone

Planets Arecibo Room

Formation: terrestrial and giant planets, moons

Organic material

Orbits

Rotation: synchronous and non-synchronous

Magnetic field of planet / protection from particle radiation

Tectonics

Surface chemistry

Modification of habitable zone

Atmospheres Licancabur Room

Composition(s) and Pressure

Greenhouse

Protection from UV and x-radiation

Effect of starspots

Modification of habitable zone

Life Europa Room

Origin of m-star life

Ingredients for life (C, H, O, N, etc. )

Solvent system (liquid water or ?)

EM and particle radiation

Environmental limits for origin and evolution

Evolution of single cell organisms

Evolution of multicellularity

Extinction, recovery, diversity

12:00 Lunch Cafe

1:00 Second Workgroup Session: Preparing Reports: What are the questions?

M Stars Hat Creek Room

Planets Arecibo Room

Atmospheres Licancabur Room

Life Europa Room

2:30 Coffee Entrance Corridor

3:00 General Session: Refining the Questions Arecibo Room

Reports from Workgroups 60 min

Discussion: What are the questions? 30 min

Form New Workgroups? 30 min

Identify new participants for between workshops and next workshop

5:00 Adjourn

6:00 Banquet at a local restaurant

Tuesday, 19 July 2005

8:00 Coffee / Breakfast Entrance Corridor

9:00 Welcome to Day #2 Arecibo Room

Review Issues 10 min

Assign Workgroup Questions 10min

9:30 Third Workgroup Session: Refining the Issues

Group 1: Differential analysis: G dwarf (Sun) vs. M dwarf Room #1

Group 2: Refining the model of an M dwarf star Room #2

Group 3: Limits to the Continuously Habitable Zone Room #3

11:30 General Session: Progress Reports Arecibo Room

12:00 Lunch Cafe

1:00 Fourth Workgroup Sessions: Refining the Issues Continued

Group 1 Room #1

Group 2 Room #2

Group 3 Room #3

2:30 Coffee Entrance Corridor

3:00 General Session Arecibo Room

Reports from Workgroups 60 min

Discussion 30 min

Form New Workgroups? 30 min

5:00 Adjourn

Wednesday, 20 July 2005

8:00 Breakfast Entrance Corridor

9:00 Final Workgroup Session:

What research is needed?

What can be done in 18 months?

Group 1 Room #1

Group 2 Room #2

Group 3 Room #3

9:30 Coffee

10:00 General Session: The Next Steps Arecibo Room

Reports from Workgroups 60 min

What do we know?

Are there show stoppers, i.e., can M stars host habitable planets?

What research is needed?

What can be done in 18 months?

Discussion and Assignments 30 min

Plans for collaboration and the next workshop 30 min

12:00 Adjourn