title: The search for extraterrrestrial life:  recent developments.  A report on IAU Symposium 112.
abstract: This paper is a report on the International Symposium "The Search for Extraterrestrial Life:  Recent Developments" which was held in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 18-21 June 1984.  It was the first IAU Symposium organised by Commission 51 of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), and was co-sponsored by the IAF/IAA, COSPAR, ISSOL and IUBS.  This report describes the highlights from the seven Sessions and two special events of the Symposium, which was attended by 145 participants from 18 countries and in which more than 50 invited and contributed papers were presented.  It also discusses the future plans and activities of IAU Commission 51.
authors.affiliation: Department of Astronomy, Boston University, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Papagiannis
mesh_terms: D001256:Astronomy; D005075:Biological Evolution; D019418:Evolution, Chemical; D018559:Exobiology; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D008404:Massachusetts; D016083:Planets; D016082:Solar System