›The detection of extra-terrestrial life and the consequences for science and society

Astronomers are now able to detect planets orbiting stars other than the Sun where life may exist, and living generations could see the signatures of extra-terrestrial life being detected. Should it turn out that we are not alone in the Universe, it will fundamentally affect how humanity understands itself - and we need to be prepared for the consequences.

Chairs: Lord Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society; Dr Catherine Cesarsky ForMemRS, Commissariat à l'Ënergie Atomique (CEA)/SACLAY; Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell DBE FRS, University of Oxford; Professor Steven Rose, Open University.

Confirmed speakers include: Professor Simon Conway Morris FRS, Dr Malcolm Fridlund, Professor Paul Davies, Professor Albert A Harrison, Professor Ivan Almar, Professor Michel Mayor, Dr Chris McKay, Professor Charles Cockell, Dr Kathryn Denning, Professor Colin Pillinger CBE FRS, Professor Ted Peters, Professor Christian de Duve ForMemRS, Dr Frank Drake, Professor Pascale Ehrenfreund.