Inside the Boardroom with Alan Bagley - SETI Institute

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Board Profile Most astronomers downplay the threat of such events, and statistically they are correct to do so. According to David Morrison, we have a 1 in 20,000 chance of such an impact event happening within our lifetime, and as our technological capability to discover and deal with such threats grows, so do our chances of avoiding this kind of apocalypse. However, the current scientific debate about protecting the Earth from such impacts is essentially the latest chapter in the long and violent history of our planet. Morrison recommends that we simply get on with our everyday lives with a fateful acceptance of the facts. Conclusion We have to accept the apocalyptic nature of some events that have happened to Earth in the past, and may threaten us again in the future. As this threat is perceived, man stands at a crossroads in his evolution. For the first time in history, a species has emerged on this planet that has a technological capability that could defer this menace, and even obliterate it from our collective consciousness. If this is so, then Earth will continue along its path of life’s history, and perhaps apocalypse will come through measures that are unforeseeable as human evolution continues. However, such a form of apocalypse will hardly be catastrophic, but will result from minute changes over long periods of time. Whatever the case, apocalypse and catastrophism in their various forms will always be a part of cosmological and astronomical study because they generate wonder about the universal home we inhabit. In the final analysis, we continue to be inspired and awed by the physical processes that make up our universe, and we realize, despite our imposed self-importance, that we are just a very small part of a cosmos that interacts with humanity in ways that the ancients could never foresee. Mark Brake and Martin Griffiths University of Glamorgan United Kingdom Mark Brake and Martin Griffiths are members of NASA’s Astrobiology Science Communication Group at the Centre for Astronomy and Science Education, University of Glamorgan, United Kingdom. This article originally appeared in proceedings from the “Apocalypse 2000” conference. Inside the Boardroom with Alan Bagley Seth Shostak The successful stewardship of the SETI Institute depends upon its Board of Trustees, which counts among its 17 members two Nobel Prize winners, four members of the National Academy of Sciences, one member of the National Academy of Engineering, and several current and former Fortune 500 business executives. This series profiles our Board members and gives insight as to why such important people have chosen to be part of the SETI Institute. When did you become aware of the SETI Institute’s work, and what initially intrigued you Sometime around 1965, Barney Oliver, Director of Research at Hewlett-Packard Company, attended a meeting where Frank Drake brought forth his now-famous equation and used it as an agenda for a scientific symposium. Barney told us at HP about that meeting. He was greatly impressed by the logic in the equation and the caliber of scientists there to discuss the probability of life in outer space. His interest in the SETI concept grew. Before long he had shown us the advantages of using a large radio-telescope array in the search for intelligent life. At one point, when the Institute was receiving NASA funds, I was one of the people Barney invited to attend a three-day review of scientific progress at the Institute. I think the comments of our review committee were useful in confirming a certain bureaucratic sickness that had crept in. That problem was properly medicated. In that review process, I became more aware of the excellent scientific and engineering talent engaged in the search. Later, when asked to take a place on the Board, I was delighted to accept. What area of research most intrigues you I am intrigued by the broad research being carried on at LITU (Life in the Universe), in the search for any possible cosmic life forms. What do you see as the greatest challenges for the Institute The Institute has difficulty in obtaining sufficient funding to carry on its programs. As we face that challenge, we must be sure to maintain absolute scientific honesty in any promotions used for funding as well as in all of our public relations efforts. What do your friends say when you tell them you’re involved with the SETI Institute Some of my friends are a bit skeptical regarding the odds against our getting any “return on investment.” I like to point out that discoveries in astronomy are slowly but steadily improving those odds. Also, it is worth noting that the world is better today because of risk-takers. Among some of the more successful in that regard are Dave Packard, Bill Hewlett, Gordon Moore, Barney Oliver and Paul Allen, all of whom have placed their bets on SETI. To bet against them would seem unwise. Alan Bagley Board of Trustees, SETI Institute Mr. Bagley spent 37 years as a Hewlett Packard Executive including general manager. He is the founder of the Los Altos Community Foundation. 16 SETI Institute Explorer
COSMIC NEWS NASA/JPL-Caltech/NOAO In April, the SETI Institute hosted an exhibit and sale of Chinese brush and finger paintings by artist and Institute supporter Inger Friis. Mrs. Friis donated proceeds from the art sales to a scholarship for summer interns at the Institute. Born in New York in 1910 to Danish parents, Friis began painting very early in life, and has received numerous awards for her artwork, which has been displayed in museums from New Jersey to Taiwan. Jill Tarter attended the Time100 Bash in NYC April 19 to receive her award as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most “influential and powerful people” of 2004. As mentioned in a previous issue of Explorer, Dr. Tarter was chosen in the “Scientist and Thinker” category for her leadership role in the scientific search for evidence of life on other worlds, and for her efforts to promote scientific literacy among youth, particularly girls and young women. May was a busy time for SETI Institute scientists. Jon Jenkins spoke at UCLA on May 13. Nathalie Cabrol reported on the progress of the Mars Exploration Rovers at Foothill College as part of the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series. On May 19 Seth Shostak was the featured scientist for Ask a Scientist, a free lecture series held each month at a café in San Francisco. Jill Tarter spoke at the CEN meeting in Seattle on the 25. Ken Souza was part of a panel discussion at the International Satellite Convention on May 31. On May 14 the SETI Institute held our second annual Science Day event. A day of lectures featuring scientists and educators from The Center for the Study of Life in the Universe, The Center for SETI Research, and Education and Public Outreach, as well as several guest speakers. Over 300 guests attended the event, held at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. Become a member of TeamSETI to receive invitations to events like this, and more! The Luncheon Society of San Francisco welcomed Jill Tarter as their speaker on June 11. Peter Backus was the featured speaker at the IEEE EMC Society meeting in Michigan on June 15. On June 16, Seth Shostak was a distinguished lecturer at the AIAA meeting in Houston, and spoke at the Salado Institute later that week. Douglas Vakoch was a panelist(via videolink) at the Dana Center in London. On June 19 he presented his research at the Society for Interpersonal Theory and Research conference in Montreal, Canada. On June 22, Principal Investigator Jon Jenkins spoke at the NASA Explorer Schools (NES) workshop at Ames Research Center in Mountain View about the Kepler Mission. On June 28 the SETI Institute welcomed students from the National Youth Leadership Forum on Technology, an annual program that brings together the most gifted high school students from across the United States with industry professionals and educators for a behind-the-scenes view into the field of technology. The Institute’s participation included both a site visit in which students heard presentations from Jill Tarter, Peter Backus, Emma Bakes and Tom Kilsdonk, as well as interactive seminars at the Fairmont in San Jose held by Institute Principal Investigators Margaret Race and Nathalie Cabrol. Postcards from Saturn is the subject of Mark Showalter’s talk at the Mt. Tam Astronomy program on July 9. As mentioned in our last issue, the Astrobiology Summer Science Experience for Teachers (ASSET) program will take place July 10-16. A science and curriculum institute for high school science teachers, the workshop features a combination of cutting edge science, inquiry-based teaching and learning, and leadership skills development. The program includes presentations by leading astrobiology researchers from the SETI Institute, NASA, and the California Academy of Sciences. Also in July the SETI Institute will host the NAI First Workshop on the Habitability of Planets Orbiting M-Stars. The workshop runs July 18-20 and will feature many of the Institute’s scientists among the working groups. The SETI Institute’s Frank Drake contributed the afterword to a new astrobiology book featuring text by Ray Villard and Lynette Cook’s stunning artwork of extrasolar worlds. Infinite Worlds – An Illustrated Voyage to Planets Beyond Our Sun includes 78 full-page color paintings and 38 color photographs, in tandem with Villard’s commentary on the current state of astronomy, and what may lie in the future. Second Quarter 2005 - Celebrating our 20th Anniversary 17
Page 1 and 2: Explorer Second Quarter 2005 Volume
Page 3 and 4: Letter from the CEO July 2005 Dear
Page 5 and 6: Of course, a space program - while
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Page 9 and 10: Astrobiology Perseids © Wally Pach
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Page 19 and 20: http://www.oldstarlight.com The Moo
Page 21 and 22: Allen Telescope Array Update David
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Inside the Boardroom with Alan Bagley - SETI Institute

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