Northwestern University's Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) presents the CIERA Annual Public Lecture, featuring astrophysicist Professor Sara Seager.
• A free public lecture by Professor Sara Seager, North Star Distinguished Professor at the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA), University of Toronto
• Q&A session following the talk
• Stick around afterward to chat with CIERA researchers and ask any questions about the science or the center
• All are welcome! Content is tailored to a general audience.
Talk Title:
The Search for Signs of Life Beyond Earth
About this Talk:
For thousands of years, inspired by the starry night sky, humanity has wondered about what lies beyond Earth. Today, the search for signs of life is a key motivator in planetary exploration. Astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets orbiting stars other than the Sun and are studying their atmospheres for gases that could indicate life. Closer to home, renewed interest in Venus has led to investigations of its cloud layers, where temperatures are right for life. New discoveries in both exoplanets and Solar System bodies are bringing us closer to answering ancient questions about the search for life beyond our own.
About the Speaker:
Sara Seager is an astrophysicist and North Star Distinguished Professor at the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA) at the University of Toronto. A pioneer in the study of exoplanets, her research spans the detection of exoplanet atmospheres, the search for signs of life beyond Earth, and the development of novel space mission concepts. Her honors include a MacArthur Fellowship, membership in the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics. She is the author of The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir.
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Cost: Free and open to the public.
CIERA Astrophysics
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