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Are We Alone in the Universe?

About this event

What to expect

Explore how artificial intelligence is transforming SETI at this one-hour talk with astrophysicist Professor Michael Garrett in Glasgow on 9 March 2027.

Searching for signs of technological life

Do advanced technological civilisations exist elsewhere in our Galaxy, and, if so, how might we detect them? This in-person presentation examines one of astronomy’s biggest questions through the emerging science of technosignatures: observable evidence that could point to the presence of technology created by a distant civilisation.

Professor Michael Garrett will discuss the latest developments in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), with particular attention to signatures associated with energy-intensive extraterrestrial civilisations. The talk will explain how recent technical advances, especially artificial intelligence, are changing researchers’ ability to identify and assess potential signals across vast astronomical datasets.

The session will cover:

  • The scientific search for advanced civilisations in the Galaxy
  • What astronomers mean by potential “technosignatures”
  • How energy use could reveal the presence of distant technology
  • The role of AI in improving the detection of unusual or promising signals
  • Recent developments in SETI and radio astronomy

About the speaker

Professor Michael Garrett FRS is the Sir Bernard Lovell Chair of Astrophysics at the University of Manchester and Special Professor of Radio Astronomy at Leiden University. His research perspective places the discussion at the intersection of astrophysics, radio astronomy, artificial intelligence and the search for life beyond Earth.

The event is organised by IES – a multi-disciplinary engineering institution. It should appeal to people interested in AI, engineering, astronomy, space science and the practical application of advanced technology to fundamental scientific questions. No prerequisites or required experience level are specified on the event page.

Event details

The talk takes place in person from 6:30pm to 7:30pm on Tuesday 9 March 2027 at the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow, 12 Nelson Mandela Place, Glasgow G2 1BT. The advertised format is a focused, one-hour presentation.

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