Radio telescopes based in New Mexico scan for communication from alien civilizations.
Through the years, the University of Arizona College of Science has hosted free lecture presentations at unusual places, from downtown Tucson pizza joints to local home breweries.
But the annual lecture series at Centennial Hall is by far the most popular of all. This year, it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
College dean Carmie Garzione says the series' success is centered on public curiosity, and much of its public appeal comes from the enthusiasm of the presenters themselves.
"We love sharing our passion for science with the audience, and we hope that people will come and be ready to laugh and learn and enjoy the company of a community in Tucson that absolutely loves science," she explained.
Each year there’s a theme and a surprise. This year’s theme looks at the science of communication and how it plays a role in our everyday lives. The surprise is it isn’t necessarily about communication between humans.
Presenter Evan MacLean teaches Veterinary Medicine, and he will co-present along with colleague Emily Bray. Together, they'll trace the centuries-old connection between people and dogs.
"Scientists figured out there is an asymmetry in tail wagging," MacLean noted. "And that asymmetry depends on that particular emotion the dog is feeling."
UA astronomer Chris Impey will join astrophysicist Daniel Apai to talk about potential communication with alien civilizations.
"The precautionary principle is that you should be very careful," warned Impey.
There will be other cautionary tales, too. Like how easy it is to get communication wrong. According to presenter and speech professor Genesis Arizmendi, people with the ability to speak multiple languages can still face challenges in communication.
Meanwhile, computer scientist Ellen Riloff will describe the aspect of understanding and intuition:
"You can tell me your house just burned down, let's say in one of the LA wildfires, and I am going to offer my sympathy, I know you are probably upset, I might offer assistance to you, but you didn't tell me anything about your emotional state."
Many attendees at the lecture series arrive expecting to learn something new. But Garzione suggests the idea behind the event is more about sparking the imagination, and thinking about possibilities.
“There is research that shows that those who experience wonder and allow wonder to be part of their daily lives are happier and healthier in the long run,” she said.
While a lot has happened in the last 20 years, the next 20 years of the lecture series is expected to bring up new issues, from the increasing impact of climate change to the changes already taking place with the advent of generative artificial intelligence.
There’s still a lot out there to wonder about.
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