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SETI Institute

The SETI Institute is a not-for-profit research organization incorporated in 1984 whose mission is to explore, understand, and explain the origin and nature of life in the universe, and to use this knowledge to inspire and guide present and future generations, sharing knowledge with the public, the press, and the government. SETI stands for the "search for extraterrestrial intelligence".

Not to be confused with SITE Institute.

Abbreviation

SETI

1984

Not-for-profit research organization

To explore, understand, and explain the origin and nature of life in the universe

The institute consists of three primary centers: The Carl Sagan Center, devoted to the study of life in the universe; the Center for Education, focused on astronomy, astrobiology and space science for students and educators; and the Center for Public Outreach, which produces "Big Picture Science", the institute's general science radio show and podcast, and "SETI Talks", its weekly colloquium series.

Instruments[edit]

Instruments used by SETI Institute scientists include the ground-based Allen Telescope Array; several ground-based optical telescopes, such as the Shane telescope at Lick Observatory, the W.M. Keck telescopes and IRTF in Hawaii; and the Very Large Telescopes in Chile. They also use space-based telescopes including the Hubble Space Telescope, the Spitzer Space Telescope, Kepler, TESS, and the Herschel Space Telescope.


SETI scientists are involved in space missions, including the New Horizons mission toward Pluto, the Cassini mission previously in orbit around Saturn, the Mars Rovers Opportunity and Curiosity, the Kepler mission, and the TESS mission. They also cooperate with NASA in the CAMS meteor-tracking network.[2]

History[edit]

The SETI Institute was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) California nonprofit organization in 1984 by Thomas Pierson (former CEO), and Dr. Jill Tarter. Financial and leadership support over the life of the SETI Institute has included Carl Sagan, Bernard Oliver, David Packard, William Hewlett, Gordon Moore, Paul Allen, Nathan Myhrvold, Lewis Platt, and Greg Papadopoulos. Two Nobel laureates have been associated with the SETI Institute: Charles Townes, key inventor of the laser, and the late Baruch Blumberg, who developed the Hepatitis B vaccine. Within the SETI Institute, Andrew Siemion heads the SETI effort.[3] Seth Shostak is the host of Big Picture Science. Dr. David Morrison was the director of the Carl Sagan Center, until August 2015, when Nathalie Cabrol was appointed as director.[4] Edna DeVore, the director of education and public outreach beginning in 1992, retired in 2018, at which time Pamela Harman became the new director of education. The SETI Institute is headquartered in Mountain View, California. In 2015, Silicon Valley businessman Bill Diamond was appointed as CEO.


On 13 February 2015, scientists (including David Grinspoon, Seth Shostak, and David Brin) at an annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, discussed Active SETI and whether transmitting a message to possible intelligent extraterrestrials in the cosmos was a good idea.[5][6] That same week, a statement was released, signed by many in the SETI community, that a "worldwide scientific, political and humanitarian discussion must occur before any message is sent".[7] On 28 March 2015, a related essay was written by Seth Shostak and published in The New York Times.[8]


In January 2019, it was reported that the institute was looking for moons around 486958 Arrokoth.[9]

Funding supporters[edit]

Funding for SETI Institute programs comes from a variety of sources. Contrary to popular belief, and their Form 990, no government funds are allocated for its SETI searches – these are financed entirely by private contributions. Other astrobiology research at the SETI Institute may be funded by NASA, the National Science Foundation, or other grants and donations.[10] TeamSETI is the SETI Institute's worldwide membership and support organization.

The SETI Institute Official Website

Big Picture Science Radio Program Official Website

(including archives of past lectures)

Colloquium Series

Ideas Roadshow, 2013

"SETI: Astronomy as a Contact Sport – A conversation with Jill Tarter"

Official NASA Community College Website