Public Understanding of the Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Public understanding of the search for life in space is not sufficiently understood. To date, much of the public opinion research has treated belief in aliens as a supernatural or conspiratorial belief, rather than a public understanding of science issue. This presentation will overview how the American public views extraterrestrial life and the scientific search for life in space from a science communication perspective.

Public lecture; part of LSC's 2026 Science Communication Colloquium.