SETI Institute Scientists Available to Comment on President Bush's New Space Initiative.

Science Writers

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 14, 2004

Scientists from the SETI Institute, one of the nation's premiere nonprofits dedicated to scientific research, are available to comment on President Bush's new space initiative. President Bush today asked Congress to increase funding for NASA by $1 billion over five years, while radically transforming the space agency's manned space flight goals -- from low-Earth orbit to daring missions to the moon and ultimately Mars. The mission of the SETI Institute is to explore, understand and explain the origin, nature and prevalence of life in the universe. Among America's most renowned scientists, the SETI Institute spokespeople available for commentary include:

Dr. Christopher Chyba

Dr. Chyba's research centers on the search for life elsewhere in the solar system. Accomplishments include the following:

-- Teaches a graduate seminar at Stanford, "The origins of life

in the solar system"

-- Holds the Carl Sagan Chair for the Study of Life in the

Universe at the SETI Institute

-- Leads the Institute's research team chosen in July 2003 as

Lead Team in NASA's Astrobiology Institute

-- Associate Professor (Research) in Stanford University's

Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, and

Co-Director of the Center for International Security and

Cooperation (CISAC) at Stanford

-- In 1996 received the Presidential Early Career Award, "for

demonstrating exceptional potential for leadership at the

frontiers of science and technology during the 21st century"

-- Chaired the Science Definition Team for NASA's Europa Orbiter

mission

-- Former executive committee member of NASA's Space Science

Advisory Committee (SSAC),

-- 1993 White House Fellowship;

-- White House national security staff 1993-1995

-- Named one of Time magazine's "Fifty for the Future."

-- In 2001, named a MacArthur Fellow by the John D. and Catherine

T. MacArthur Foundation for astrobiology and international

security work.

Dr. Seth Shostak

-- Astronomer involved with Project Phoenix

-- BA in physics from Princeton and a PhD in astronomy from

Caltech

-- Responsible for SETI Institute's outreach activity.

-- Before SETI, Seth did research work on galaxies using radio

telescopes at observatories and universities in America and

Europe

Dr. Frank Drake

-- SETI Institute Senior scientist

-- Serves on Institute's Board of Trustees, and is Chairman

Emeritus

-- In 1960, as a staff member of the National Radio Astronomy

Observatory, he conducted the first radio search for

extraterrestrial intelligence.

-- Member, National Academy of Sciences; chaired Board of Physics

and Astronomy of the National Research Council (1989-92)

-- Served as President of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific 

-- Professor of Astronomy at Cornell University (1964-84); served

as Director of the Arecibo Observatory

-- Emeritus Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the

University of California at Santa Cruz; served as Dean of

Natural Sciences (1984-88).

Editors and reporters, please note: If you are interested in scheduling an interview or would like commentary from one of these or other SETI scientists, please contact Diane Richards, SETI Institute, at: 650-960-4513 or via email at: [e-mail]. For more information about the SETI Institute, please visit www.seti.org.