NASA Space Biology Center Goes to Indiana

Indiana University at Bloomington will soon be the headquarters of one of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's new Astrobiology Institute "lead teams," which are research institutes working on projects related to the search for life beyond Earth.

Based at IU and involving 18 scientists from eight research institutions, the new Indiana-Princeton-Tennessee Astrobiology Institute (IPTAI) will be directed by IU Bloomington biogeochemist Lisa Pratt. Other IU members are geologist Edward Ripley, artist Ruth Droppo and Digital Media Services managers Douglas Pearson and Michael Jasiak of University Information Technology Services.

NASA will provide IPTAI with $5 million in funding over five years, and the institute will be able to apply for a renewal of funding in 2008. IPTAI is one of 16 lead teams selected this year.

Link to NASA Astrobiology Program.