When: 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Where: Orca Books 509 East 4th Avenue, Olympia Phone 360.352.0123
Our October topic is Astrobiology: Life in its Cosmic Context
Space missions have given us hints of planets and moons in the Solar System that may have once been inhabited or perhaps possess life today. At the same time, recent astronomical data show that most stars have planets around them. Closer to home, we’re learning more about the vast range of habitats for microbes on Earth and signs of life in Earth’s earliest rocks from billions of years ago. Given these findings, the new interdisciplinary science of astrobiology asks: How did life originate and evolve on Earth? Are we alone in the universe? And how should we look for life beyond Earth?
In this talk, David Catling will explain highlights from the latest scientific research in astrobiology. Dr. Catling is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences and the cross-campus Astrobiology Program at the University of Washington, Seattle. He participates in research for NASA’s Astrobiology Institute and was part of NASA’s science team for the Phoenix Lander that successfully landed in the arctic of Mars in 2008. He’s the author of Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction published in 2014 by Oxford University Press, which explains astrobiology for a general audience.
November Topic and Speaker: To Be Announced
Science Café of Olympia meets each month on the second Tuesday. It provides an informal atmosphere where people with and without scientific background can meet to deepen their understanding of interesting topics in science and technology. After a presentation by an expert in the field, the meetings are opened for discussion. Science Cafés are found nationwide and are loosely affiliated with the U.K.-based Cafe Scientifique, an international organization promoting public engagement with science.
Some of the organizers of Science Café of Olympia are affiliated with the Puget Sound Chapter of The American Chemical Society.
Send us your comments and suggestions on topics, speakers and how we can improve our meetings. Feel free to pass this notice on to like-minded friends.