A talk following the evolution in our search for life outside of Earth will take place as part of a “Badger Talk” at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in November.
“How can we find other life in the universe?” will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1 in UW-Stevens Point Chemistry Biology Building, Room 105, 2101 Fourth Avenue, Stevens Point. The free event hosted by Thomas Beatty, assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he will discuss the search for life in distant planets using powerful telescopes.
Beatty holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, a master’s in physics from MIT and a PhD in astronomy from Ohio State University. Before moving to Wisconsin, he worked as an instrument scientist on the James Webb Space Telescope, where he helped build one of Webb’s cameras and helped to operate it once Webb reached space. Beatty’s research focuses on measuring the atmospheres of exoplanets – planets around other stars – to figure out what they are made of and what their climates are like, to understand how planets form, and search for life elsewhere in the universe. He has been credited in the discovery of nine new exoplanets.
“Badger Talks”, offered through UW-Madison, aim to bring speakers to help spark ideas and conversations on important topics to audiences. Learn more at badgertalks.wisc.edu.