Michael Bradbury, a board member of the Northwest
Science Writers Association wants to make sure we know about:
The Search for Extraterrestrial Life: Is Anything
or Anybody Out There?
A conversation featuring:
Dr. Jill Tarter,
director of the Institute’s Center for SETI Research, Bernard M. Oliver Chair,
SETI Institute
Dr. Don Brownlee, Department of Astronomy,
University of Washington
Moderator: Keith Seinfeld, health and science
reporter, KPLU 88.5
Are we just searching for stardust, or are
intelligent beings out there somewhere? Dr. Tarter, on whom the Jodie Foster
character in the movie “Contact” is largely based, is a 2009 TED Award
recipient. The TED Prize goes to thought-provoking, action-oriented individuals
who have a good chance to change the world as we know it, and each winner is
encouraged to "make a wish" for the change they want to see. Jill Tarter wished
to "empower Earthlings everywhere to become active participants in the ultimate
search for cosmic company.” Dr. Brownlee is PI of the NASA's Stardust comet
sample return mission and works on cosmic dust, comets, astrobiology and
STARDUST - a NASA Discovery mission to collect samples from a comet and bring
them back to Earth. Dr. Brownlee co-authored a book titled "Rare Earth: Why
Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe".
Given their different stances, how are each
conducting their research, and what sorts of specialized instruments are being
used? If life does exist, where do they think it will be found and in what form?
Should we bring back soil samples from Mars to test for life? What kind of
funding is being allocated to the search, and what have they discovered to date
or on the horizon that we might not know about? Join us for dessert, coffee* and
thought provoking conversation. And don't forget your own questions for these
experts as we discuss the possibility of life existing in our Solar System or
beyond!
Thanks to:
Event Chair: Dennis Schatz
Supporting Sponsor: Experience Music Project | Science Fiction Museum and
Hall of Fame
Co-presenting Organization: Boeing Employees' Astronomical
Society, Northwest Science Writers Association, Pacific Science Center, and
Washington NASA Space Grant
A no host bar will be available.
Registration: 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. | Reception: 6:30 -
7:00 p.m. | Program 7:00 - 8:00
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2009
Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Venue
EMP|SFM
325 5th Avenue
North
Seattle, WA 98109