School of Computer Science Seminar John Elliott: The SETI Post Detection Hub @ St Andrews - Preparing our science, society, and regulatory readiness

John Elliott will present The SETI Post Detection Hub @ St Andrews — Preparing our science, society, and regulatory readiness

Abstract: Amongst many new discoveries, our technology now reveals that there are many hundreds of billions (maybe trillions) of other Galaxies in the observable Universe, and amongst the hundreds of billions of stars in our own Galaxy there are hundreds of billions of planets — many that are suitable for supporting life, even as we know it.

Preparedness for high impact events is crucial for our security and resilience, whether global or national. Of course, we do not know when such an event may happen. But we do know that we cannot afford to be ill-prepared — scientifically, socially, and politically rudderless — and mismanage an event that could have profound effects on us all. The discovery of life beyond this planet is such an event.

Dr John Elliott introduces the SETI Post Detection Hub at the University of St Andrews — its work and primary objectives for coordinating science, societal, and regulatory readiness, for our security and resilience: an International (approx., 60 experts from 40+ disciplines) UK-based, leading presence in the scientific community for preparing a roadmap and framework (with its many transferrable skills) for such extraordinary discoveries and global impact events. Current CS related work includes developing an AI architecture for remote space probes, an AI-Assisted Global Coordination [genAI] System for Scenario Simulation and Decision-Making, and Hub collaborative work Strategic Futures [scenario] Modelling.

Website: https://seti.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/

Bio: Dr Elliott has been a leading contributor for SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) post-detection research and development, since the late 1990s. Since then, he has served as a member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) SETI Permanent Committee, where he has contributed significantly to the endeavour, via many roles, publications, and initiatives: e.g., Post Detection Task Force, Journal Editor, and IAA Conference Organising Committee. In 2012, with Lord Martin Rees as patron, he co-founded the UK SETI Research Network, for which he is currently the Chair. In 2022, he then founded the SETI Post Detection Hub at the University of St Andrews, which now has an active and growing membership of international experts that currently comprises over 40 subject areas, working together on one of humanity's most multi-disciplinary undertakings.