SETI 协会
SETI 协会
SETI 协会是一个关于天体生物学学科的非盈利组织（即搜索地球外存在生物的证据）。SETI 协会的使命是“探索，理解和解释宇宙中生命的起源，性质和患病率”。其中的一个计划是使用无线电与光学望远镜来寻找外星智慧生物所蓄意发出的信号（即SETI的全称）。另外的一个研究，Carl Sagan中心内正在进行的宇宙中生命的研究，则包含对太阳系外行星、在火星或太阳系内其他天体上生活的可能性和星系适居性（包含极端微生物）的研究。The SETI Institute’s public outreach efforts include working with teachers and students in promoting science education and the teaching of evolution, working with NASA on exploration missions such as Kepler and SOFIA, and producing a weekly science program: Are We Alone?.
Instruments used by SETI Institute scientists include the Allen Telescope Array, the radio telescopes at Arecibo, Parkes, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Spitzer Space Telescope.
The SETI Institute was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) California nonprofit organization in 1984 by Thomas Pierson (CEO), and Dr. Jill Tarter. Financial and leadership support over the life of the SETI Institute has included Carl Sagan, Bernard Oliver, David Packard, William Hewlett, Gordon Moore, Paul Allen, Nathan Myhrvold, Lewis Platt, and Greg Papadopoulos. Two Nobel Laureates are also associated with the SETI Institute: Charles Townes, key inventor of the laser, and Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the Hepatitis B vaccine. Within the SETI Institute, Jill Tarter heads the SETI effort; Dr. Frank Drake, known for the Drake Equation, is the Director of the Carl Sagan Center, and Edna DeVore is the Director of Education and Public Outreach. Dr. Seth Shostak is Senior Astronomer, and host of Are We Alone? The SETI Institute is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
Funding for SETI Institute programs comes from a variety of sources. Contrary to popular belief, no government funds are allocated for its SETI searches – these are financed entirely by private contributions. Other astrobiology research at the SETI Institute may be funded by NASA, the National Science Foundation, or other grants and donations. TeamSETI is the SETI Institute’s worldwide membership and support organization.