People: Astrobiology Faculty

Woody Sullivan
Astronomy

The fundamental question of the existence of extraterrestrial life is not new, but for the first time we can now carry out scientific experiments and observations to search for such life. Such a search requires a tremendous range of expertise, largely from people who are willing to stray out of the usual narrow specialist confines. I'm excited by interactions with biologists, oceanographers, geologists, engineers, etc. that our Astrobiology Program engenders, and am committed to the goal of producing a new breed of graduate student.

I'm a radio astronomer by training and have been active in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) for three decades, for example, in developing the seti@home project. Through SETI I became fascinated by the questions of the origin and evolution of life on Earth, and where life might occur elsewhere in the Galaxy, and in what form. The focus of the UW Astrobiology Program, however, is quite properly on microbial life, a much more likely form to exist in extraterrestrial locales, especially those within our solar system.

I also do research in the history of science (in particular astronomy) and teach in the UW History Department. My primary research has been concerned with early radio astronomy as it developed out of World War II radar. The UW Astrobiology Program does include historical, philosophical, social, and ethical issues related to Astrobiology, and graduate students can obtain a Ph.D. in History, specializing in the History of Science.

AB faculty members Woody Sullivan (right) and Peter Ward, Grand Canyon Astrobiology Workshop 2004