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More about Life in the Universe

Life in the Universe (LiU) is an educational outreach programme scheduled for the second half of 2001. It aims at providing a forum for participation of the European public in the ongoing efforts to address the scientific and societal questions surrounding the broad topic of life in the Universe. The general goals are to stimulate public interest in and understanding of this exciting multi- disciplinary area of scientific research (and in scientific research in general).

LiU is organised by the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in cooperation with European Association for Astronomy Education (EAAE). Also the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) are associated with the programme. LiU is thus supported by all the major intergovernmental science organisations in Europe.

LiU is part of the European Science and Technology Week, an initiative by the European Commission.

The main scientific issues to be addressed include the following:

  • establishing an understanding of how the Universe was created, what are the fundamental particles of which all matter is made, and examining current theories which suggest different wiews on the nature of the Universe.

  • establishing an understanding/consensus of just what constitutes 'life'.

  • overview of the current ongoing scientific searches for life in the universe such as the search for increasingly complex interstellar molecules, the search for extra-solar planets, the search for (fossil) life in the solar system, the search for extraterrestial intelligent signals, etc.

  • science fact versus science fiction

    The main societal/philosophical issues to be addressed include the following (not exhaustive):

  • historical perspective within this wide field. This may include e. g., the general acceptance at earlier times, by the scientists and the public, of people on Mars in connection with the purported canals, the more recent reaction of the US Congress to stop funding of the SETI project from the US federal budget, etc.

  • humankind's ongoing fascination with the idea of extraterrestial life

  • societal and philosophical impact of the actual (and scientifically-verifiable) discovery of extraterrestial life.

    The specific target groups are:

  • the general public, who will participate via access to the web-based information sites and, in particular, via the media (TV events, newspaper debates, etc.)

  • the young generation, that will have the opportunity to learn, in concise terms, about an interesting and innovative research area, with the associated benefits in terms of personal development, knowledge and opportunities for international interactions

  • teachers, who will receive very useful educational materials that can be used in various contexts, ranging from natural to humanistic sciences

  • the media, which will receive scientifically well-founded information within a subject matter that is often prone to a less stringent approach; in this sense the programme will have a particular 'educational' effect

    Of course, each of these groups will benefit from this programme in various ways. In particular, however, for the first time ever, a well-founded, comprehensive, structured and up-to-date material of unique value to educators, science communicators and the media will be put together and made available to the public.

    The specific programme objectives are:

  • to incite the participants, in particular young people, to use available information about the subject matter, including new material that will be prepared for this programme

  • to incite the participants, in particular young people, to create electronic sources of information about the subject matter (web-based, CD-ROMs), thereby exploiting the creativity and innovative skills of the participants themselves

  • to create a unique on-line library of related up-to-date resources for educational purposes

  • to plan and execute a co-ordinated major international media event via national TV channels at the time of the European Science and Technology Week 2001

    An important, implicite objective of the programme is to sensitise the European public to some of the most basic issues of society, by putting the ecological discussion into a larger perspective, that of global survival in a hostile universe.

    LiU Trailer
    Real Media Video+Audio; 2.2 Mb
    MPEG Video+Audio; 11.7 Mb

    International Steering Committee
    Neil Calder, CERN
    Dominique Cournejols, ESRF
    Russ Hodge, EMBL
    Martin Huber, ESA
    Yusuf Jafry, ESA
    Claus Madsen, ESO
    Wubbo Ockels, ESA
    Fernand Wagner, EAAE
    Richard M. West, ESO

    Executive Co-ordinator
    Monica de Pasquale, CERN

    Website Co-ordinator
    Anders Västerberg, EAAE

    Last updated November 11, 2001