The SETI Institute is a not-for-profit research organization incorporated in 1984 whose mission is to explore, understand, and explain the origin and nature of life in the universe, and to use this knowledge to inspire and guide present and future generations , sharing knowledge with the public, the press, and the government. SETI stands for the "search for extraterrestrial intelligence".
29-483: The institute consists of three primary centers: The Carl Sagan Center , devoted to the study of life in the universe; the Center for Education , focused on astronomy, astrobiology and space science for students and educators; and the Center for Public Outreach , which produces " Big Picture Science ", the institute's general science radio show and podcast, and "SETI Talks", its weekly colloquium series. The SETI Institute
58-765: A crash-course in astronomy and experience two sorties on the SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) modified 747 aircraft, operated by NASA and the German Space Agency . In 2016, the institute received a five-year grant from NASA for an institute-conceived STEM program for the Girl Scouts of the USA . In partnership with the University of Arizona, the Girl Scouts of Northern California and
87-615: A dash of humor and proves the thesis that science radio doesn't have to be dull! The institute's weekly colloquium series – SETI Talks, is an in-depth one-hour lecture featuring leading researchers from around the world in astronomy, astrophysics, aerospace technology, astrobiology, machine learning and more. Lectures are free of charge, open to the public and presented at Microsoft's Silicon Valley Campus in Mountain View, California. All SETI Talks are video-taped and archived on YouTube. Over 350 lectures are available on-line, and indexed on
116-912: A full-time position at the Carl Sagan Center to lead the development of space mission concepts and new high-resolution & high contrast instruments for ground-based telescopes. He currently leads the Education and public outreach program of the Gemini Planet Imager , an instrument dedicated to the search of exoplanets, using direct imaging, spectroscopy and polarimetry which initiated its search campaign in March 2015. He has also taught on several occasions "The Planets" class at UC-Berkeley (Astro 12) and several classes in Spanish in Chile. He
145-608: A variety of sources. Contrary to popular belief, and their Form 990, no government funds are allocated for its SETI searches – these are financed entirely by private contributions. Other astrobiology research at the SETI Institute may be funded by NASA , the National Science Foundation , or other grants and donations. TeamSETI is the SETI Institute's worldwide membership and support organization. Big Picture Science Big Picture Science
174-696: Is also available for download via podcast and direct download from podcast networks as well as the show's website where archived shows from 2006 on can also be found. Episodes are cut to an NPR clock. Big Picture Science was formerly titled Are We Alone? , and functioned as a commercially-supported radio call-in show before transitioning to distribution through the Public Radio Satellite System and Public Radio Exchange . Franck Marchis Franck Marchis (born April 6, 1973 in Caen , France), astronomer and planetary scientist ,
203-483: Is an associate astronomer at Observatoire de Paris since June 2003, IMCCE . (ref [1]). He has appeared and has been a science advisor of several TV shows and documentaries linked to his work on the search for life in our universe and the study of Io's volcanism and asteroids. Marchis exploited the high-resolution capabilities offered by adaptive optics from groundbased telescope to survey hundreds of main belt asteroids and Trojans. Together with his team, they announced
232-404: Is best known for his discovery and characterization of multiple asteroids, his study of Io volcanism and imaging of exoplanets, planets around other stars. The asteroid 6639 Marchis was named in his honor on April 4, 2007. In 2017, he joined Unistellar as Chief Science Officer and co-founder where he is in charge of the development of Citizen Science, education and outreach program. Marchis
261-479: Is the national science radio program and podcast, produced at the SETI Institute and hosted by Senior Astronomer Seth Shostak and journalist Molly Bentley, the executive producer of the show. The program uses innovative storytelling to connect trends in contemporary research and technology. Episodes are thematic, providing in-depth discussion of particular developments in science. Topics covered include
290-596: The American Association for the Advancement of Science , discussed Active SETI and whether transmitting a message to possible intelligent extraterrestrials in the cosmos was a good idea. That same week, a statement was released, signed by many in the SETI community, that a "worldwide scientific, political and humanitarian discussion must occur before any message is sent". On 28 March 2015, a related essay
319-826: The Herschel Space Telescope . SETI scientists are involved in space missions, including the New Horizons mission toward Pluto, the Cassini mission previously in orbit around Saturn, the Mars Rovers Opportunity and Curiosity , the Kepler mission, and the TESS mission. They also cooperate with NASA in the CAMS meteor-tracking network. Funding for SETI Institute programs comes from
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#1732773034069348-586: The Excitement of NASA Science to the Nation's Community Colleges, NASA Community College Network is a newly funded (2021) initiative to bring NASA subject matter experts (SME), research findings, and science resources into the nation's community college system. The Center for Public Outreach brings the work of the SETI Institute and other leading research organizations, to the general public through its weekly radio broadcast and podcast – "Big Picture Science" and
377-628: The Girl Scouts of the USA, the SETI Institute launched "Reaching for the Stars: NASA Science for Girl Scouts." This will develop a new series of merit badges based on a STEM curriculum for girls aged 5 to 18. Funded by the National Science Foundation, SETI Institute operates a summer internship program for college students. Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) is an eight-week summer internship that pairs students with institute mentor/scientists. Bringing
406-623: The L4 swarm and the first moonlet companion in the Trojan discovered. The second triple system orbiting in the main-belt was discovered by the same team and announced in March 2007. Subsequent analysis of VLT-NACO images taken in Jan. 2004 revealed the presence of a second 6-km size moonlet orbiting around (45) Eugenia . Since 1999, this system was known to have a large moonlet, called Petit-Prince (~15 km) orbiting at 1200 km. ref[6]. In December 2014,
435-543: The SETI Institute: Charles Townes , key inventor of the laser, and the late Baruch Blumberg , who developed the Hepatitis B vaccine. Within the SETI Institute, Andrew Siemion heads the SETI effort. Seth Shostak is the host of Big Picture Science . Dr. David Morrison was the director of the Carl Sagan Center, until August 2015, when Nathalie Cabrol was appointed as director. Edna DeVore,
464-745: The astrobiology roadmap charted by the Drake Equation , the scientists of the Carl Sagan Center endeavor to understand the nature and proliferation of life in the universe and the transitions from physics to chemistry, chemistry to biology and biology to philosophy. Most of the research undertaken within the Carl Sagan Center is funded by grants from NASA , while SETI endeavors are funded exclusively by private philanthropy. The institute's SETI researchers use both radio and optical telescope systems to search for deliberate signals from technologically advanced extraterrestrial civilizations . The SETI Institute employs over 100 researchers that study all aspects of
493-470: The director of education and public outreach beginning in 1992, retired in 2018, at which time Pamela Harman became the new director of education. The SETI Institute is headquartered in Mountain View, California . In 2015, Silicon Valley businessman Bill Diamond was appointed as CEO. On 13 February 2015, scientists (including David Grinspoon , Seth Shostak , and David Brin ) at an annual meeting of
522-648: The discovery of the first triple asteroid system in August 2005 ( 87 Sylvia ), and the first measurement of a Trojan bulk-density in February 2006 ( 617 Patroclus ). Both discoveries were published in Nature journal (ref [2], [3]) In July 2006, Marchis and his team announced the discovery of a moonlet companion around 624 Hektor using the Keck Laser guide star AO system (ref [4]). This is the first multiple system in
551-762: The institute's website. Instruments used by SETI Institute scientists include the ground-based Allen Telescope Array ; several ground-based optical telescopes, such as the Shane telescope at Lick Observatory , the W.M. Keck telescopes and IRTF in Hawaii; and the Very Large Telescopes in Chile. They also use space-based telescopes including the Hubble Space Telescope , the Spitzer Space Telescope , Kepler , TESS , and
580-1089: The latest developments in science. Guests include researchers from academic, public and private spheres (including NASA ), popular science writers, cultural critics, engineers, and ethicists focused on science. Once a month an episode, "Skeptic Check," is devoted to critical thinking and takes on topics in junk science and the paranormal . The show is broadcast on approximately 155 radio stations, many of them NPR affiliates. These include KALW in San Francisco, WCMU-FM in Michigan, WVPE in Indiana, WHRV in Virginia, WIEC in Wisconsin, and WNYE in New York City, as well as World FM in Tawa, Wellington , New Zealand , and American Forces Network . The show
609-414: The most energetic eruption ever seen on the solar system. Surt volcano, located on the north hemisphere of Io, was then starting an extremely active eruption. The observed energy indicates the presence of a vigorous, high-temperature volcanic eruption. The kind of eruption to produce this thermal signature has incandescent fire fountains of molten lava which are kilometers high, propelled at great speed out of
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#1732773034069638-586: The search for life, its origins, the environment in which life develops, and its ultimate fate. They include Laurance Doyle , Peter Jenniskens , Pascal Lee , Mark R. Showalter , Franck Marchis , and Janice Bishop . The Center for Education promotes STEM education through NASA and NSF -funded programs aimed at teaching and inspiring children, young adults and educators in physical sciences with emphasis on astronomy and astrobiology. The Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program brings research to American middle and high school teachers. Selected science educators take
667-526: The southern hemisphere. He participated in the development of observations with the first adaptive optics system available to a large community (called ADONIS on the 3.6m telescope). He moved to California shortly after receiving his Ph.D. in November 2000 through a postdoctoral position at UC Berkeley. Since then, he has dedicated most of his activity monitoring Io's volcanism with the Keck -10m telescope and
696-579: The support of CfAO , an NSF science and technology center. In 2003, he was hired as an assistant researcher at UC Berkeley to conduct his research more independently and expanded it to a broader field, but still based on high angular resolution capabilities. In 2007, he was appointed as a Planetary Scientist at the Carl Sagan Center of the SETI Institute where he expanded his research on multiple asteroids using space-telescope facilities (HST, Spitzer telescope) and participating to development of space mission concepts to explore these new worlds. In June 2011, he took
725-571: The team led by Bin Yang re-observed a binary asteroid system 130 Elektra with the new Extreme AO system SPHERE of the VLT UT4 telescope and detected a smaller and closer satellite not yet seen on previous AO data. Using high imaging capability available on ground-based telescopes equipped with adaptive optics systems, F. Marchis and his team monitor and study the exotic volcanism of Io , Galilean satellite of Jupiter . In February 2001, they witnessed
754-450: The weekly lecture series "SETI Talks." Big Picture Science is hosted by the institute's Senior Astronomer, Seth Shostak and co-hosted by Executive Producer Molly Bentley . The award-winning general science program engages the public with modern science research through lively and intelligent storytelling and interviews with leading authors, educators and researchers in wide-ranging disciplines. The show mixes engaging and topical science with
783-601: Was born in France. He is currently a Principal Investigator at the SETI Institute . He received his Ph.D. in 2000 from university of Toulouse, France in planetary science. Although his thesis was performed while living in several places: Mexico, France, Great-Britain; the main part of his studies were made while working at La Silla observatory in Chile for the European Southern Observatory , an intergovernmental organization aiming to develop astronomy in
812-417: Was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) California nonprofit organization in 1984 by Thomas Pierson (former CEO), and Dr. Jill Tarter . Financial and leadership support over the life of the SETI Institute has included Carl Sagan , Bernard Oliver , David Packard , William Hewlett , Gordon Moore , Paul Allen , Nathan Myhrvold , Lewis Platt , and Greg Papadopoulos . Two Nobel laureates have been associated with
841-645: Was written by Seth Shostak and published in The New York Times . In January 2019, it was reported that the institute was looking for moons around 486958 Arrokoth . The Carl Sagan Center is named in honor of Carl Sagan , former trustee of the institute, astronomer, prolific author and host of the original "Cosmos" television series. The Carl Sagan Center is home to over 80 scientists and researchers organized around six research thrusts: astronomy and astrophysics, exoplanets , planetary exploration, climate and geoscience, astrobiology and SETI. Guided by
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