Astrobiology (general)

The Limits to Life in a Fertile Universe

By Keith Cowing
January 26, 2009

Message from the Center Director Revised: Ames Takes On…The Vatican?

Well, not exactly. But at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 19, Ames’ own Lynn Rothschild will engage Father George Coyne, Director Emeritus of the Vatican Observatory (and my college adviser) on “The Limits to Life in a Fertile Universe.” I will moderate as they consider the fact that while the potential for life was present at the Big Bang, the only place that the promise may have been realized is planet Earth. George Coyne, an astronomer and Jesuit priest, and Lynn Rothschild, an evolutionary biologist and astrobiologist, will approach this question from their different perspectives. They will consider what niches life may have found since the Big Bang, and muse on the significance of the fertile universe.

The talk will take place in the ballroom in Building 3 at 7 p.m. on February 19, 2009. It is being jointly hosted by ARC, the Commonwealth Club and the Yale Club. The event is open to the public; admission is $10, payable in advance or in cash at the door. If you wish to pay in advance via credit card, please contact Georgette Gehue of the Commonwealth Club at (408) 280-5842 or at email address [email protected]. She will add your name to the list of attendees. She can also reserve a spot for you even if you pay at the door.

Light refreshments will be served.

I think this will be an extremely interesting exchange of ideas, and hope you will be able to join us.

S. Pete Worden
Center Director

Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Station Payload manager/space biologist, Away Teams, Journalist, Lapsed climber, Synaesthete, Na’Vi-Jedi-Freman-Buddhist-mix, ASL, Devon Island and Everest Base Camp veteran, (he/him) 🖖🏻