Debate 2, Thursday, October 29, 2009

Panel members:

Sharon Ukena

Arlene Nielson

René Medina

Ashley Johnson

Michael Smith

Send me an e-mail if you'd like to be on panel (rwalterb@nmsu.edu)

Audience: come prepared with questions.

Topic:  Exploring for life in the solar system and beyond.

Possible subjects:

• What are the odds of finding live elsewhere in the Solar System? Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the prospects?

• What are the best ways to go about this search: manned missions? Robotic missions? Sample return missions?

• Is it worth exploring this issue, even if we already know there is no advanced life outside Earth in solar system?

• Is it worth spending our money on this type of research?  For example, should we spend more research dollars on  searching for extra-solar planets to find Earth's analogs, or on searching for life elsewhere in the solar system? Should we not spend money at all on the search for life? Astronomy?

Panel members will prepare a half-to-one page statement on one or two of these issues that they will read to the audience to stimulate discussion of these topics. Audience members will take part in the discussion by asking questions and advocating their views.

Instructor will moderate discussion and try to stop Roswell officials from taking over the class room.