1. Astrobiology in culture: NASA initiatives to broaden the dialogue
“From Star and Planet Formation to Early Life,” Vilnius, Lithuania, 28 April 2016
Linda Billings, Ph.D., National Institute of Aerospace, USA; Consultant to NASA’s Astrobiology Program, NASA HQ

2. Outline
NASA tradition of encouraging dialogue… 2015 NASA astrobiology strategy 2015 European AstroMap 2015 Origins of Life Strategy Broadening the dialogue, 2012-present: Blumberg Chair/Library of Congress, Center of Theological Inquiry, NASA Astrobiology Debates Past efforts (1973, 1999, , 2009…) Looking forward…

3. Astrobiology in culture(s)
Culture is a “historically transmitted pattern of meanings embedded in symbols, a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms by means of which [people] communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about and attitudes toward life.” (Clifford Geertz) Efforts to address “societal implications” or “societal effects” of astrobiology have been largely Western- centric (even U.S.-centric). Cultural hegemony: domination of a diverse culture(s) by a dominant, or ruling, class – in this case, the domination of a myriad of wildly diverse cultures by Western scientific (scientistic) culture.

4. NASA Astrobiology Planning
Community roadmaps: 1998, 2003, 2008
2015 Astrobiology Strategy: 30 lead authors, 50 additional authors, 75 contributors…
All documents acknowledge that the astrobiology community recognizes a broad interest in its work.
2015 Astrobiology Strategy: One of five very broad goals for NASA AB is to “Enhance Societal Interest and Relevance. Astrobiology recognizes a broad societal interest in its endeavors, especially in areas such as achieving a deeper understanding of life, searching for extraterrestrial biospheres, assessing the societal implications of discovering other examples of life, and envisioning the future of life on Earth and in space; Act upon the public interest to understand our place in the Universe and broaden understanding of life, [and] Sustain the human imperative to explore the unknown.”

5. (“Kelly’s Big List of Astrobiology Research Items for Humanist Types”)
“Beyond natural sciences: humanities and social science contributions to astrobiology”
Appendix to Astrobiology Strategy (Lucas Mix and Connie Bertka):
Brief discussion of “the range of humanities and social sciences that contribute to the central goals of astrobiology”:
* The role of epistemology in astrobiology: “What are the comparative standards of evidence in astrobiology-related fields? Is a definition of life necessary to the pursuit of astrobiology?”
* “What is the role for social science in astrobiology? Who is doing astrobiology and what professional and personal motivations encourage their work? What is the range of interest in and attitudes toward astrobiology?”
* The roles of ethics, history, law, communications.
* “Encouragement of independent work in the humanities and social sciences on these topics will aid astrobiology immensely.”
(“Kelly’s Big List of Astrobiology Research Items for Humanist Types”)

6. Related documents
AstroMap: European Astrobiology Roadmap (G. Horneck et al, Astrobiology 16(3), 2016, pp ) 2015 – A Strategy for Origins of Life Research (C. Scharf et al, Astrobiology 15(12), 2015) (Workshop, August, 2015, Earth-Life Science Institute Origins Network, Tokyo)

7. Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology
Scholarship at the intersection of the sciences and humanities Chair: David Grinspoon (astrobiology in the anthropocene) Chair: Steven Dick (preparing for discovery, “Impact…”) : Blumberg Dialogues (“Astrobiology and the Religious Imagination: Reexamining Nations of Creation, Humanity, Selfhood, and the Cosmos,” “Rethinking Life on Earth and Beyond: Astrobiology and the Role of Paradigm Shifts in Science and Human Self-Understanding,” “Stories About Life in the Cosmos: Historical, Cultural, and Artistic Perspectives on Astrobiology”) Chair: Nathaniel Comfort (“Origins of the RNA World,” March 17) Observation: social scientists and humanistic scholars have studied and thought about science and the scientific world view in the context of their studies, while most natural scientists do not seem to have spent much time thinking about or studying other ways of knowing.

8. Center of Theological Inquiry
Inquiry on the societal implications of astrobiology, and : - symposia, colloquia, individual research projects, public programs, podcasts Questions guiding the inquiry: “If there are many different forms of life, known and unknown to us, what does it mean to be “alive”? “How would art and literature depict life as we know it against this background of other possibilities?” “To what extent do our moral relations depend on the biology we share with other persons and other life?” “With all these unanswered questions about life in the universe, how do we organize ourselves to investigate the possibilities?”

9. NASA Astrobiology Debates, 2015-16
Resolved: An overriding ethical obligation to protect and preserve extraterrestrial microbial life and ecosystems should be incorporated into international law. 
Management: George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Middle school, high school, and university competitions (2000+ students, minority recruitment).

10. Past efforts to address societal implications
1972: “Life Beyond Earth and the Mind of Man,” Boston University: Ashley Montagu, Philip Morrison, Carl Sagan, Krister Stendhal, George Wald (report, 1973)
1999: Workshop on the Societal Implications of Astrobiology, NASA Ames Research Center, November:
Areas for future research: “What are the biological, psychological, and cultural factors that compel humankind to envision life beyond our planet’s surface? Why do we seek evidence of extraterrestrial life and intelligence, and why do we strive to establish a continuing human presence off of our home planet?” 
“Our discussion has focused on attitudes found within contemporary western society. Yet, astrobiology has implications for all of humankind. One urgent requirement is to extend our explorations to people from radically different societies, religions, and cultures.”
S. Dick paper, “Cultural aspects of Astrobiology”

11. Past efforts (cont.)
: Workshop series on the philosophical, ethical, and theological implications of astrobiology, AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (Report, 2007) 2008: Workshop on “Astrobiology: Expanding Our Views of Society and Self,” University of Arizona (C. Impey et al, Encountering Life in the Universe: Ethical Foundations and Social Implications of Astrobiology, 2013) 2009: SETI Institute workshop to develop a roadmap of societal issues relating to astrobiology (Race et al, Astrobiology and society: building an interdisciplinary research community, Astrobiology 12(10), 2012) *7 F/33 M, 2 Asian-Ams., 1 sociologist of science/cultural studies scholar* 2010: Royal Society discussion meeting on “the detection of extraterrestrial life and the consequences for science and society.” NASA Astrobiology Institute Focus Group on AB and Society, ca

12. Past efforts
Minimal participation by social scientists and humanities scholars. Western-centric, science-centric, SETI-centric.

13. Present initiatives
Focus on broadening the diversity of theoretical , cultural, gendered perspectives. NASA funding aims to kick-start ongoing dialogue/projects among scholars and public audiences (no intent to fund ongoing program). NASA astrobiology strategy: integration, not separation.