1542 - A Fermi Paradox Survey

Author / Creator

AAPT WM21 (2021)

Conferences

AAPT WM21 A2.5 Astrobiology & Exoplanets (2021)

Available as

Online

Summary

When pondering the question of whether or not life exists elsewhere in the galaxy, Enrico Fermi asked his now famous question "If they are out there, why aren't they here?"" Towards the end of a la...

When pondering the question of whether or not life exists elsewhere in the galaxy, Enrico Fermi asked his now famous question "If they are out there, why aren't they here?"" Towards the end of a large enrollment one - credit, semester - long course on "Aliens," students were asked which of the three general answers: 1-We ARE alone; 2-We ARE NOT alone and they are NOT here; or 3-They ARE here, but we don't KNOW it; they subscribed to and  why. The responses were then used to create a  Fermi Paradox Survey  in which students were asked again to choose one of the three general answers then choose from possible reasons fashioned from common student responses in the "Aliens" course. Results from the "Aliens" course and the Survey's use in a more general astronomy course covering the solar system, exoplanets and life will be discussed.

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