The SETI Institute has a straight- forward yet profound mission:
To lead humanity’s quest to understand the origins and prevalence of life and intelligence in the universe and share that knowledge with the world.
You could say our mission is as big as the universe—because it is.
We were founded by a group of pioneering scientists in 1984. It’s hard to believe now, but before they came together to create the SETI Institute, there was little focused research being done on the search for other life in the universe.
Over the past four decades, we have developed or been part of the most audacious research projects ever conceived to explore our expanding universe.
But of all the advancements we’ve made over the past 40 years, one perhaps truly stands out and that is the elevation of SETI from a research effort addressing a fringe science question to one addressing what has become the core question in space science and exploration. SETI research is now a highly respected branch of space science, gaining more interest and momentum in the US and worldwide.
Throughout human history, “Are we alone?” has been a profound question largely relegated to the domains of philosophy and religion. But it is now squarely in the domain of scientific inquiry. With the discovery of the ubiquity of planets and the billions of potentially habitable worlds, this question is now one of the three primary science questions at NASA. It is one of the three Big Questions of NASA, which wasn’t true 40 years ago—and it’s a key reason that space exploration is enjoying a renaissance upon the 40th anniversary of the SETI Institute.
Over the decades our work has expanded, refocusing on core science beyond SETI. Our research includes programs in astrobiology, astronomy, astrophysics, earth science, planetary science, and exoplanets. These disciplines have been an equally important part of our identity over the past 40 years and they too will expand and develop as we embark on the next 40 and beyond.
And not only are we doing the science, we’re getting the word out. Outreach and education are a vital part of what we do. They are embedded into our mission through sharing our work with the world. Our outreach and education programs enhance science literacy. They fire the imagination and serve to inspire
future generations. Increasingly, we endeavor to reach and connect with underserved communities and indigenous peoples to share our knowledge and learn from theirs.
As we reach our 40th anniversary milestone, we’re not resting on our past success. That past is propelling us toward an even more ambitious future. And while nobody can know what the future of exploration will bring, we’ve assembled some pretty thought provoking guesses in the second half of this issue.
Whether you are a scientist, a SETI Fellow, an employee, a donor, or just a fan, you’ve been part of this 40-year journey, and we hope you come along for what’s next.
Bill Diamond
President & CEO
Dan Lankford
Chair of the Board of Directors
