Dr. Bennett speaks frequently to the general public at colleges, science museums, and planetariums. Currently he can offer either of the following three presentations, each lasting approximately 1 hour.
Beyond UFOs: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and its Astonishing Implications for Our Future
Is there really life beyond Earth? Astronomer and author Jeffrey Bennett will talk about why this question has become a hot topic of scientific research, and discuss how scientists are searching both for microbial life and extraterrestrial intelligence. Along the way, we'll also see why the possibility of life beyond Earth has profound implications to the future of our species, even in the unlikely event that we are alone in the universe. Children are welcome; those over about age 10 should be able to understand most of the talk, and younger children will still enjoy the pictures. Note: This talk is based on Dr. Bennett's forthcoming new book Beyond UFOs (Princeton University Press, 2008); he is also the author of Life in the Universe, the leading college textbook in the field of astrobiology. Click here to see a video of a past presentation of this lecture.
On the Cosmic Horizon: The Top Ten Mysteries in Astronomy Today
Do you enjoy the astronomical headlines, but wonder what they really mean? Astronomer and author Jeffrey Bennett will help you put it all into context with his personal "Top 10" list of the biggest mysteries in astronomy today. Along the way, he'll discuss how solving these mysteries may change our perceptions of ourselves and of our home planet Earth. Children are welcome; those over about age 10 should be able to understand most of the talk, and younger children will still enjoy the pictures. Note: This talk is based on Dr. Bennett's book On the Cosmic Horizon (Addison Wesley, 2001).
The Scale of the Universe
If you could hold the Sun in your hand, where would we find the planets and other stars? Astrophysicist Jeffrey Bennett will discuss the remarkable scale of the universe in both space and time, so that you'll see what it REALLY means when we say that something is "astronomical" in size. Note: This talk largely centers around the Voyage scale model solar system that is now a permanent exhibit on the National Mall in Washington, DC; Dr. Bennett proposed the exhibit and served as co-PI during its development.
