Canadian Arctic and Northern Lights

Canadian Arctic and Northern Lights
September 15 - September 30, 2025
Speaker: Dr. Rosalba Bonaccorsi, SETI Institute Research Scientist

Topics:

• The Drake Equation and the search for life in the Universe: from stars to whales
  The Drake Equation explores the probabilistic number of alien civilizations we could detect within our galaxy. We can relate this to the habitable environments, extreme life, and intelligent behavior on our planet, and how observing life on Earth can help us find it elsewhere.
• Making the Arctic (& Antarctica) work for ocean worlds.
  Discover how Earth’s polar environments serve as models for exploring icy moons like Enceladus and Europa. Explore various polar environments and their marine life, and consider the possibility of similar life in the ice-covered oceans of our solar system.
• Protecting environments on Earth and the solar system
  Explore how future missions will search for life on other planets by drilling for underground samples while avoiding the problem of contamination. Learn about planetary protection protocols, sterilization technique and their applications.
• Astrobiology science expeditions to planetary analogs
  Discover how life detection technologies for Mars and beyond are tested in Earth’s extreme environments, from the Atacama Desert to the Tibetan Plateau. Learn about field expeditions that deepen our understanding of life, test innovative technologies, and inspire future scientists and the public.