Friends and Colleagues,

The international astrobiology community is the poorer this week with the death of Baruch S. Blumberg. Other venues will present his personal history and professional career and his passing.

We wish also to remember Barry as one of the first to embrace The Astrobiology Society. He was the first person, outside the nine Founding Members, to express support for the Society’s formation in the Spring of 2007.

Barry was ‘bitten’ by the NASA-bug years before. Astrobiology’s combination of hypothesis-driven science, technology innovation, field campaigns, and meaning-of-life philosophizing suited him down to the ground. In turn, he brought a lifetime’s experience of all these elements to his role as Director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute. One of his metaphors, as he guided the establishment of NAI, was ‘laying out paving stones for new pathways’. He enabled astrobiologists to take new directions, to find and collaborate with each other in new ways. It is critically important, he would often say, to wait before setting out the pavers (procedures) or laying concrete (policies); wait until the movement (of ideas) reveals natural traffic patterns, then just keep the paths clear of obstacles. This simple approach became a continuing attitude at NAI.

Barry reveled in opportunities to interrogate people and places. He was sublimely happy when he could do both—go out in the field and spend time with researchers, particularly students. Baked or frozen, wet or dry, and generally dirty were desirable features of fieldwork.

Whether encountered in the field, in the lab, in the office, or at symposiums and conferences, Barry was always approachable, charming, and dynamically engaged. He kept copious notes and cross-referenced numerous souvenirs. He created a life full of opportunities, and lived it with deliberation and focus.

He was a gregarious person who leaves behind many colleagues and friends, including a large number of astrobiologists. We remember him with respect, affection and admiration.

Rose Grymes

The Astrobiology Society wants you to be a founding member!

Membership will give you the opportunity to shape the future of the society and the community of which it is a part. It will also grant access to society benefits that include an online subscription to Astrobiology, the Society’s official journal.

Come be a part of the future of our field! The society has drafted and adopted by-laws, affiliated with a leading astrobiology journal, developed membership procedures and fees, and opened its website. In short, the structure is in place to incorporate the thing that will make this society a true success: members like you. We want you to be a part of the society. Come join ABS!

Make your voice heard! If you would like to receive more information about The Astrobiology Society, participate in building this new society, and/or express your views, please give your contact information to any of your colleagues on the Executive Committee or send an e-mail to:

Malcolm Walter - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For more information on becoming a member of the society, please click here.

Click here to join now.