NASA Astrobiology Community Update & NASA-DARES at AbSciCon 2026

Date/Time: Monday, May 18th, 2026, 7:00–8:30 pm CDT

Please join us Monday evening, May 18th, for the NASA Astrobiology Community Update at AbSciCon 2026, featuring updates from the NASA Astrobiology Program and NASA-DARES Task Force 2.

This two-part session will begin with a programmatic update from NASA Headquarters covering current activities, organizational updates, and upcoming opportunities across the NASA Astrobiology Program. The discussion will highlight continued efforts to support community creativity, innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and communication across astrobiology.

The second half of the session, expected to begin at approximately 8:00 pm CDT, will focus on the NASA Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy (NASA-DARES). NASA-DARES Task Force 2 will present:

An overview of the draft NASA-DARES strategy framework and focus areas

• Highlights from Task Force 2 findings and cross-cutting themes
• Information on the upcoming public comment period
• Opportunities for community engagement moving forward
• Timeline towards publication in December 2026

The session will also include time for community discussion and Q&A on opportunities for astrobiology as a central pillar of NASA science and exploration in the decades ahead.

We hope you will join us for the discussion. Safe travels to those heading to Wisconsin!