April Swansea Science Cafe: The Fermi Paradox
The Swansea Science Cafe offers opportunities for anyone to find out more about new, exciting and topical areas of science. Designed to be informal and entertaining, the cafe typically runs on the last Wednesday of every month at the Dylan Thomas Centre. Entry is free and talks start at 7:30pm.
Title: The Fermi Paradox, organised by Wales Gene Park
Speaker: David Skibinski, Professor of Evolutionary Biology, Swansea University
Date: Wednesday 25th April 2012
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: The Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea
Admission: Free, all welcome
Event summary: The Universe is vast with millions of planets where intelligent life might evolve. So why aren't aliens visiting us all the time, or sending us signals?
This is known as the Fermi paradox after the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi who discussed the question in 1950. The paradox is sometimes referred to as "The Great Silence".
Scores of theories have been put forward to explain the paradox. Perhaps we are alone in the Universe? Perhaps aliens are here already but don't let on? Perhaps aliens are not interested in us? Perhaps aliens exist but are just too far away?
Professor David Skibinski, will review these theories and invite opinion on which of these seem most plausible.
This news item has been posted for the Swansea Science Cafe by Katy Drane, Swansea University Public Relations Office, Tel: 01792 295050, or email: k.drane@swansea.ac.uk