Robinson Lecture 2010

"Astrobiology: Implications of Life Beyond Earth"

Professor Chris Impey
University of Arizona

2010 November 18th at 8.00 pm
in the Armagh City Hotel

The Tenth biennial Robinson Lecture will be given on the evening of Thursday 18th November 2010 by Professor Chris Impey, Deputy Head of Department and University Distinguished Professor in charge of academic programmes in the Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona, USA. In these roles he runs the largest undergraduate-majors programme in astronomy in the USA and the second largest PhD programme. His research interests focus on observational cosmology, gravitational lensing and the evolution and structure of galaxies. In recent years he has pioneered curriculum development in astrobiology and is currently the PI on a major four-year grant from the Templeton Foundation that explores issues at the interface of science and religion. He has agreed to provide a Robinson lecture on the subject "Astrobiology: Implications of Life Beyond Earth". In addition he will deliver a Robinson Schools Lecture. The Abstract of the Robinson Lecture is given below.

"Astrobiology: Implications of Life Beyond Earth"

Either we are alone in the universe or not; either way, the implications are staggering. This talk considers the prospects for and implications of life beyond Earth. Biological adaptation to extreme conditions makes it very likely that variations on biology will be present on moons and planets around many of the billions of Sun-like stars in the Milky Way. The nearly 500 planets already found around other stars are forerunners of Earth-like planets that astronomers expect to be finding in the next few years. With exobiology still a blank slate, consideration will be given to potentially unusual forms of life.

Attendance at the Robinson Lecture is free, but if you would like to attend the Robinson Lecture, please contact the Armagh Observatory in order to obtain tickets. Please write, telephone or send an e-mail to: Mrs Aileen McKee, Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Armagh, BT61 9DG; Tel: 028-3752-2928; Fax: 028-3752-7174; e-mail: ambnarm.ac.uk.

Last Revised: 2010 September 2nd