Is There Other Life in The Universe

“Is There Other Life in the Universe?” a scientific overview of the prospects for intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, is the next Westmont Downtown Conversation by physics Professor Warren Rogers, 5:30 p.m. May 13, at the University Club, 1332 Santa Barbara St.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

Starting with the early universe following the Big Bang, Rogers will trace the production and dispersion of heavy elements that form the basis for life.

“We will explore necessary conditions for the development and sustenance of intelligent life and consider evidences for these conditions outside the solar system,” Rogers said. “We will conclude with a discussion of the challenges in establishing the existence of and communication with other intelligent life forms, given the vast size and age of the galaxy and the universe.”

Rogers has been a physics professor at Westmont for 10 years. His area of expertise is in experimental physics and cosmic ray muon detection. He regularly involves undergraduate students in research and conducts experiments with colleagues at Michigan State University's National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. Rogers serves on the education subcommittee of the Nuclear Science Advisory Council, a group charged by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy to conduct a study of issues related to education in nuclear science. He also serves on the committee on education of the American Physical Society.

For more information, contact the Westmont public affairs office at (805) 565-7057 or e-mail pubaffairs@westmont.edu. Digital image of Rogers is available upon request.