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March 17, 2003

AAAS Program of Dialogue on Science Ethics and Religion Presents:

Life Elsewhere? Astrobiology, Science, and Society

Thursday March 27, 2003 6:00 PM

AAAS

1200 New York Avenue, NW Washington DC, 20005

Speakers:

    Bruce Jakosky, Ph.D.

    Professor of Geological Sciences

    Director, Center for Astrobiology

    Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

    University of Colorado at Boulder


    Jim Miller, Ph.D.

    Senior Program Associate

    Program of Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion

    American Association for the Advancement of Science


Description:    

There is tremendous public and scientific interest in whether there
is life elsewhere and what the distribution of life throughout the
universe might be.  This lecture will explore the scientific basis
for thinking that life might be common, both in our solar system and
beyond.  The understanding of life based on our one empirical
example -- on Earth - will be reviewed as well as the potential for
life in other places in our solar system and possible abodes for life
on planets around other stars.  Astrobiology as a field will be used
as a case for exploring the nature of science--both what science is
and how science is practiced.  In addition, astrobiology can also
serve as topic to consider the social motivations for science and the
significance of science as a form of our exploration of the world
around us.  At a time when the search for extraterrestrial life has
become, de facto, the intellectual centerpiece of the NASA Space
Sciences program, it is worth considering the reasons for public
support for this research, the implications this area of
investigation for the future of the space program, and the roles that
basic scientific research about and exploration of the extent of life
in the universe may have in shaping our broader culture. 

Project Coordinator
AAAS Program of Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion
http://www.aaas.org/spp/dser/
ksypura{at}aaas.org

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