Course info

First-Year Seminar: Are We Alone? Humans have been asking this question for millennia, and we don't know the answer. This course will give an overview of our best scientific efforts to answer that question and what we have found out so far. Following the structure of the famous Drake Equation, we will talk about the astronomical, geological, biological, and philosophical factors that we must consider in our search for life. We will also practice responsible reading of scientific journalism and examine the usage of extraterrestrial life in literature.