WHAT might happen if humanity got in touch with aliens from outer space is to be discussed at Clanfield Memorial Hall.
Clanfield Observatory is hosting a talk by Martin Griffiths entitled ‘The Consequences of Contact with ET’ at the South Lane venue on November 8 between 7.45pm and 10pm.
An observatory spokesperson said: “We have been searching deliberately for extraterrestrial signals since the 1960s.
“Although so much thought, effort and technology has been invested in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, little consideration has been given to the consequences of such contact and how discovering that we are not alone in the universe will affect our society and culture here on Earth.
“This talk will cover some of the most important aspects of our human response to finding life elsewhere in the cosmos.”
Speaker Mr Griffiths was a founder member of NASA’s Astrobiology Institute Science Communication Group, which was active between 2003 and 2006, and managed a multi-million-pound Astrobiology for Adult Learners programme from 2003 until 2008.
He has advised museums on several projects linking science with science fiction, including exhibitions on the science of Star Trek and the science of aliens.
Mr Griffiths is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and a member of the British Astronomical Association, the Webb Deep-Sky Society, the Society for Popular Astronomy, The Astronomical Society of the Pacific and the Astronomical League. He is also a local representative for the British Astronomical Association Commission for Dark Skies.