Can humans settle other planets? Can we become a multiplanetary species, thereby reducing our chance of extinction due to a catastrophic event? A critical aspect of this question is our ability to adapt to and/or control the environment and climate of other planets.

Join us for the inaugural Presidential Speaker Series sponsored by Duke Energy, to explore the topic of human settlement of other planets.

The event will investigate the issue both in the near term and far future. We will consider the settlement of Mars, likely imminent due to rapid rocket development, and prospects for eventually settling distant extrasolar planets, which orbit stars other than the sun.

• Date: Monday, Nov. 18
• Time: 4:30 p.m.
• Location: BARC 2200

Speakers: Dr. Ramses Ramirez, assistant professor, Department of Physics, University of Central Florida; and Dr. Howard Chen, assistant professor of planetary sciences, Florida Institute of Technology.

Moderator: Dr. Dorian Abbott, member, Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees, and professor, Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago.

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

Click here for more information.