SETI astronomer Seth Shostak to speak at UTD

by PegNews wire

Possessed of a "quick wit and (an) engaging personality," Dr. Shostak will tell us whether there's intelligent life out there or not. (Won't he? He'd better, because otherwise what's the point?)

Dr. Seth Shostak is the senior astronomer at the SETI Institute, an outfit whose purpose is to seek out intelligent life beyond the planet Earth.

Or at least that's what you'd be led to believe by its moniker (SETI stands for the "Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence"). Perhaps hedging its bets a bit, the SETI crew have adopted the following as their mission statement: "To explore, understand and explain the origin, nature and prevalence of life in the universe." Which, it seems to me, kind of holds open the possibility that the only life out there may very well be in here (i.e., our terrestrial ecosystem).

Confused? Entirely my fault, but no problem, because you can get the straight dope from Dr. Shostak himself when he visits UTD’s Kusch Auditorium (in the Founders North building, FN 2.102) for a speaking engagement at 7:30 p.m. on March 28.

Aside from being an engaging and talented speaker (it says here) and holding a PhD in astronomy from Caltech, Dr. Shostak invented the electric banana. He claims. Which probably indicates the good doc has a sense of humor - a trait to be desired in a speaker on scientific subjects, I've always found.

Since SETI's had their eyes (and big ears) on the sky since 1984, my first question for Dr. Shostak (assuming he doesn't answer it in the course of his talk) would be: "Well, doc, how 'bout it? Is anybody else out there, or not?"

Of course, you are welcome to attend the lecture (hosted by the Texas Astronomical Society during their regular monthly meeting) and ask your own questions, but if I were you I'd stay away from that whole unsavory tropical fruit topic.

posted by JM