SFAA Virtual Lecture Series
N-1: Alone in the Milky Way

Join us on Wednesday, April 20th, at 7:00pm, for a virtual lecture with Dr. Pascal Lee, Founder & Chairman, Mars Institute, NASA Ames.

At the heart of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) lies the Drake Equation, a mathematically simple yet enigmatic formula proposed by American astronomer and SETI founder Frank Drake. The Drake Equation provides a way to estimate the number N of advanced civilizations present in our galaxy. Although N is often assumed to be a large number, (ie, there would be many civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy) large numbers for N are actually in conflict with observations, a contradiction known as the Fermi Paradox named after Italian-American physicist and 1938 Nobel Prize winner, Enrico Fermi.

Pascal Lee, planetary scientist at the SETI Institute examines the state-of-the-art of our knowledge about each term of the Drake Equation and reaches the surprising conclusion that N is likely to be a very small number, close to 1. We could be "IT". The implications of N-1 are profound and will be discussed.

Brief Bio
Dr. Pascal Lee is senior planetary scientist at the SETI Institute, chairman of the Mars Institute and director of the NASA Haughton-Mars Project (HMP), the US space agency’s leading planetary analog field research project in the Arctic. He is based at NASA Ames. Lee hold an ME in geology and geophysics from the University of Paris, and a PhD in astronomy and space sciences from Cornell University. He was Joseph Veverka’s last graduate student and Carl Sagan’s last TA.

His research focuses on the possibility of extraterrestrial life on other planets, in particular through studies of water and ice on Mars, and planning the future human exploration of Mars and beyond. He has led over 30 expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica for planetary analog studies, including a 402 day winter-over in Antarctica. He is the recipient of the US Antarctic Service Medal.

Lee also does research on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, or SETI. He first argued, based on the late evolutionary appearance of technology on Earth, that the number N of advanced civilizations in any galaxy is likely a very number small number. This N-1 hypothesis would resolve the long-standing Fermi Paradox. Dr. Lee is an FAA-certified helicopter commercial pilot and flight instructor, and an artist member of the International Association of Astronomical Artists. His paintings, about space and time and our tiny yet hopeful place in their vastness, are in collections worldwide. He also works in the service of his dog, Apollo, one of the surest signs there’s intelligence on Earth.

Webinar & Streaming Details
SFAA provides multiple viewing options. You may attend the virtual meeting "live," which includes the opportunity to participate in any chat discussions and ask questions of the speaker -or- you may attend the live-streaming event on our YouTube channel or Facebook page.
To attend the virtual meeting "live" with the opportunity to ask questions:

• The virtual room will open at 6:30pm on Wednesday, April 20th by clicking this Zoom meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/95830904603?pwd=UDNKdm16US9wK1EremdJeGptdjNNdz09.
• Club, welcome announcements, and the lecture will begin promptly at 7:00pm.

• Clicking the link may prompt you to install the Zoom virtual meeting app. Once installed, you will be able to join the meeting. If the app is already installed on your device, simply enter the meeting number 958 3090 4603 and password 116064 to join the meeting.
• Once joined, you can test your audio and video, and greet other members.
• Board members will join the meeting early to help troubleshoot any problems with audio or video.

Alternatively, please visit the following channels to attend the live stream:

• SFAA YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChuBJGp_iJYZ11q_ayA-q3A
• SFAA Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/152754481404310

Hope to see you there!