Celebrate Berkeley science writer\ , John Gertz&rsquo\;s\, new book about the search for extraterrestrial int elligence with a reading and multimedia presentation by the author\, follo wed by an audience Q&\;A. One lucky attendee will win a Family Membersh ip to Chabot Space &\; Science Center\, which admits up to 6 people for a year! There will be additional space-themed library giveaways. \;And be sure to check out all of the amazing science programs and offerings of our cosponsor\, Chab ot Space &\; Science Center!
\nThe search for extrat errestrial intelligence (or SETI) is one of the most fascinating and myste rious edges of science. Fortunately\, we have a SETI expert in our own bac kyard\, as Berkeley science writer\, SETI advocate\, and film producer\,&n bsp\;John Gertz\, has a brand-new book on this topic\, \;Reinventi ng SETI: New Directions in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence \;(Oxford University Press\, 2025). While published by a renowned a cademic press\, Gertz's book is written for a general interest audience. A t this local author event at the Central Library\, Gertz will share insigh ts from the cutting edge of SETI\, wonder at theoretical possibilities bey ond what is currently known\, and answers questions from the audience.
\nOpen to all\, registration is not required.
\nABOUT THE BOOK
\nReinventing SETI \;c lears out the cobwebs of outdated or wrongheaded SETI paradigms such as Fe rmi&rsquo\;s Paradox\, the Drake Equation and METI (i.e.\, proactively sen ding signals from Earth to putative aliens). The book makes the case that\ , whereas most past and current SETI searches assume that aliens are trans mitting from their own star systems\, \;Reinventing SETI \;argues that this would be a highly ineffective strategy for ET. Conseque ntly\, the current SETI paradigm--observing stars one by one--is doomed to continue to fail. ET&rsquo\;s much better strategy would be to send physi cal robotic probes to our own Solar System in order to surveil and possibl y to communicate with humankind. Interstellar flight by biological beings is virtually impossible\, and therefore these probes cannot be "manned" by little green men and must be robotic. Because ET&rsquo\;s robotic probes are not far away but right here somewhere within our own Solar System\, it is imperative that humankind prepare now for a possibly imminent encounte r with one rather than in befuddlement of the moment after contact. Such c ontingency planning should involve international cooperation as well as br oad cross-disciplinary expertise. Since the stakes will be paramount for a ll of humankind\, an international treaty governing SETI\, METI\, post-det ection protocols\, and relations with ET should be adopted. A draft treaty is proffered by the author.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
\nJ OHN GERTZ is the President and CEO of Zorro Productions\, Inc. He has produced four Zorro motion pictures\, including \;The Mask of Zorr o \;(1998) and its sequel\, \;The Legend of Zorro\, with Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. During his tenure\, 13 dif ferent TV versions of Zorro have been produced\, as well as more than 75 Z ORRO stage productions. In 2005\, together with world-renowned author Isab el Allende\, he released the best-selling novel about the genesis of Zorro . He teamed up with Quentin Tarantino to create the graphic novel\, Dj ango/Zorro\, currently being developed into a motion picture by SONY. \;Gertz is the worldwide lead producer of \;Zorro: The Music al\, with a score by the Gipsy Kings\, which premiered on London&rsqu o\;s West End in 2008 and has since been produced throughout the world.&nb sp\;In the field of SETI\, Gertz served three terms as chairman of the boa rd of the SETI institute\; is the only layman member of the Breakthrough A dvisory Board\, and he has published a number of theoretic papers (availab le at ArXiv.org). He is also a classical pianist\, a beekeeper\, a mycolog ist\, and an organic vegetable gardener. He has served on innumerable non- profit boards\, and as president of five.
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ABOUT CHABOT SPACE &\; SCIENCE CENTER
\nCha bot Space &\; Science Center is a non-profit science center that se rves Oakland and the greater Bay Area as a place for STEM learning and eng agement. Our mission is to inspire and educate learners of all ages about the Universe and Planet Earth. Celebrating the diversity of the Bay Area\, Chabot aims to make science and space accessible to a multitude of audien ces through immersive exhibits\, hands-on STEM activities\, planetarium sh ows\, education\, and youth development programs.
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