Conference: 2014 Origins of Life, January 12-17, 2014 in Galveston, TX

概述：2014年戈登生命起源研究会议（GRC）将汇集来自不同背景的研究人员，讨论旨在了解地球上生命起源及其在整个宇宙中的潜在分布的主题。它汇集了来自不同地理位置的生物学家、地质学家、化学家、物理学家、天文学家和许多其他学科的实践者。演讲者包括来自大学、研究机构和政府机构的广泛个人。会议将于1月12日至17日在德克萨斯州加尔维斯顿的加尔维斯酒店举行。学术价值：2014年会议由Steven A. Benner博士（应用分子进化基金会，Gainesville， FL）和Stephen Freeland博士（夏威夷大学天文研究所，HI）组织。两位组织者在生命起源界都很受尊敬，他们代表了会议科学议程中的几个学科。讨论的主题将包括：最早细胞的性质和实验重建；研究地外环境中的有机化合物及其对生命起源前的可能贡献，早期地球和其他行星环境的性质，自我复制的化学系统，翻译装置的起源和进化，以及寻找地外生命。戈登研究会议在为初级研究人员和高级科学家提供小型、亲密会议的科学交流场所方面有着悠久的历史。GRC本身的形式将遵循既定的模式，包括正式会谈、海报和充足的非正式讨论时间。这些会议营造了一种强烈的科学互动氛围，并为建立科学网络提供了许多机会。与其他关于生命起源的会议相比，这次会议在两个方面填补了一个独特的空缺：它的科学焦点比许多大型会议（生命起源国际会议、生物天文学、天体生物学）要窄，而且美国的地理位置允许经常无法负担国外国际会议的年轻科学家轻松参加。更广泛的影响：除了科学讨论，2014年GRC还将探讨慈善事业在大科学中的作用，以及私营企业家如何更好地与科学家互动。提高公众的科学素养也将被讨论，包括如何在大众文化中有效地将科学转化为科幻小说的方法。目前正在作出巨大努力，增加妇女和少数群体对会议的参与，包括担任讨论领导和发言人。正在作出协调一致的努力，向国家和国际组织宣传这次会议，包括这个和其他学科的GRC和戈登研究研讨会系列的前与会者，以及主要国际天体生物学学会的成员。

Overview:The 2014 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on the Origins of Life will bring together researchers from diverse backgrounds to discuss topics aimed at understanding the origin of life on Earth and its potential distribution throughout the universe. It brings together biologists, geologists, chemists, physicists, astronomers and practitioners of numerous other disciplines from a wide variety of geographical locations. Speakers include a wide spectrum of individuals from universities, research institutes, and government organizations. The meeting will be held January 12-17th at the Hotel Galvez in Galveston, Texas. Intellectual Merit:The 2014 meeting is organized by Dr. Steven A. Benner (The Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Gainesville, FL) and Dr. Stephen Freeland (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, HI). Both organizers are well respected in the Origins of Life community and represent several disciplines included in the meeting's scientific agenda. Topics of discussion will include: the nature and experimental reconstitution of the earliest cells; the study of organic compounds in extraterrestrial environments and their possible contribution to the prebiotic inventory, the nature of the early Earth and other planetary environments, self-replicating chemical systems, the origin and evolution of the translation apparatus and the search for life beyond Earth. The Gordon Research Conferences have a long history of providing a venue for scientific exchange among junior investigators and senior scientists in small, intimate meetings. The format of the GRC itself will follow an established pattern that includes formal talks, posters, and ample time for informal discussion. These meetings foster an atmosphere of intense scientific interaction and many opportunities for building scientific networks. Compared to other meetings on the origin of life, this meeting fills a unique niche in two respects: it has a narrower scientific focus than many larger meetings (International Conference on the Origin of Life, Bioastronomy, Astrobiology), and the U.S. location allows facile participation by young scientists who frequently cannot afford to attend international meetings abroad.Broader Impacts:In addition to the scientific discourse, the 2014 GRC will also explore the role of philanthropy in Big Science and how private entrepreneurs can better interact with scientists. Improving science literacy among the public will also be discussed including methods of how to effectively transfer science into science fiction in popular culture. A large effort is being made to increase the participation of women and minority groups at the meeting, including serving as discussion leaders and speakers. A concerted effort is being made to advertise the meeting to national and international organizations, including former attendees of GRC and Gordon Research Seminars (GRS) series in this and other disciplines, and members of the major international astrobiological societies.