Next Destinations for Interstellar Travel with Sara Seager

SpaSys Research Group, University of Luxembourg

by the University of Luxembourg and the Interstellar Research Group, co-hosted by the Luxembourg Space Agency

European Convention Center Luxembourg

Join us for the second public event of the First European Interstellar Symposium, for the highlight talk An Enduring Mystery of Astronomy: Can We Find Signs of Life Beyond Earth? by Sara Seager, MIT.For thousands of years, inspired by the star-filled night sky, people have wondered what lies beyond Earth. Today, the search for signs of life is a key motivator in planetary exploration. Astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets, and the James Webb Space Telescope is studying gases in exoplanet atmospheres, including those that might indicate life. Closer to home, renewed interest in Venus has sparked investigations into the potential for life there, fueled by controversial phosphine detections and laboratory studies of organic molecules' stability in Venus’s sulfuric acid clouds. New discoveries in both exoplanets and Solar System bodies bring us closer to answering ancient questions about life beyond Earth. Professor Sara Seager will share the latest advances in this exciting field.The <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/interstellarresearchgroup/" title="https://www.linkedin.com/company/interstellarresearchgroup/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Interstellar Research Group</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/university-of-luxembourg/" title="https://www.linkedin.com/company/university-of-luxembourg/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">University of Luxembourg</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/snt-lu/" title="https://www.linkedin.com/company/snt-lu/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">SnT, Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust</a>, together with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/luxembourg-space-agency/" title="https://www.linkedin.com/company/luxembourg-space-agency/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Luxembourg Space Agency</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/breakthrough-prize-foundation/" title="https://www.linkedin.com/company/breakthrough-prize-foundation/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Breakthrough Prize Foundation</a> are very pleased to announce that Dr. Sara Seager, Professor of astrophysics and planetary science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will be a Keynote Speaker at the upcoming 1st European Interstellar Symposium to be held in Luxembourg December 2 -5, 2024.Don't forget to also check out our other Public Event on Monday: <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/space-cafe-15-science-fiction-authors-night-tickets-1059722100329" title="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/space-cafe-15-science-fiction-authors-night-tickets-1059722100329">Space Cafe #15 and Science Fiction Authors Night</a>For more information about the First European Interstellar Symposium, visit: <a href="https://feis2024.uni.lu/public/" title="https://feis2024.uni.lu/public/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">FEIS2024 Public Events</a>

<h3>Biography</h3>Professor Sara Seager, a Canadian-American astrophysicist and planetary scientist, finds inspiration in the vastness of space. Currently the Class of 1941 Professor of Planetary Science, Professor of Physics, and Professor of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Seager pioneered numerous techniques for characterizing exoplanets, revolutionizing our ability to understand these distant worlds. From her pivotal roles in space missions such as the MIT-led NASA Explorer-class TESS and her CubeSat ASTERIA, to her leadership in conceptualizing astrobiology-focused missions to Venus, Seager’s innovative approaches have garnered global recognition, including a MacArthur Fellowship, the 2024 Kavli Prize in Astrophysics, appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada, and has asteroid 9729 named in her honor. Beyond her scientific endeavors, she shares her journey in ‘The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir,’ offering a glimpse into the human side of scientific exploration.

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