Burst 15 - Nick Nielsen on the Social Context of SETI

Released: 16 March 2016
Duration: 13 minutes, 25 seconds

Download the .mp3 audio file

Science does not occur in a vacuum, and this is doubly true in the case of SETI, which is said to suffer from a "giggle factor." How does social context shape the scientific research program of SETI? The public at times shows great interest in SETI, but this attention can cut two ways, both benefiting and harming the discipline. Nowhere is this more true than in funding for SETI research.

Our SETI Thread

Credits:

Written and Read by: Nick Nielsen
Producer and VO: Paul Carr
Music: Jason Robinson