Date/Time: Wednesday Sep 9, 2026 starting at 7:30PM
Location: University of Victoria, Bob Wright Centre, Lecture Theatre A104
Would it surprise you to learn that the search for alien life begins right here on Earth? Join UVic astronomer and astrobiologist Jon Willis as he takes us on a thrilling tour of our home planet in the search for clues to life beyond it.
Bio: I am a Professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Victoria. As an astronomer I study the physical contents of the Universe and my research covers many aspects of cosmology and astrophysics. I am particularly interested in giant clusters of galaxies both for what they can tell us about the large-scale properties of the Universe and the astrophysics of galaxy evolution.
In addition to my astronomy research I am fascinated by the science of astrobiology: The search for life in the Universe. My new book is called The Pale Blue Data Point: An Earth-based Perspective on the Search for Alien Life. This is a popular astrobiology book and is published by Chicago University Press. I have previously published All These Worlds Are Yours: The Scientific Search for Alien Life (Yale, 2016).
