August 16, 2006

Michael Mewhinney
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Phone: (650) 604-3937/9000
E-mail: mmewhiney@mail.arc.nasa.gov

RELEASE: 06_60AR

NASA AMES ANNOUNCES CHANGE IN ASTROBIOLOGY MANAGEMENT

Dr. Carl Pilcher, senior scientist for astrobiology at NASA 
Headquarters, Washington, has been appointed director of the NASA 
Astrobiology Institute (NAI) based at NASA's Ames Research Center, 
Moffett Field, Calif. The appointment is effective Sept. 18, 2006.

Pilcher succeeds Dr. Bruce Runnegar, who served as the third director 
of the NAI from 2003-2006. Runnegar is returning to his home 
institution, the University of California at Los Angeles in 
September. 

Prior to coming to NASA, Pilcher served on the faculty of the 
Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii. He has received 
numerous awards, including the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal.

Founded in 1997, NAI is a partnership between NASA, 12 major U.S. 
teams and six international consortia. NAI's goal is to promote, 
conduct and lead integrated multidisciplinary astrobiology research 
and to train a new generation of astrobiology researchers. 

Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and 
future of life in the universe.

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/home

	
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