ETH Global Lecture Series

Are We Alone? The Search for Life in the Universe

Join us on Thursday 5 March 2026 as we delve into the complexities of exploring the cosmos, and journey beyond our Solar System to find life beyond our planet. Our special guest is Pete Worden, former Director of NASA’s Ames Research Center, who now leads the Breakthrough Initiatives, a privately funded suite of space science programs to find life beyond Earth and explore interstellar space. He will be joined in conversation by Sascha Quanz, Principal Investigator of the LIFE Space Mission and Head of the Exoplanets & Habitability Research Group in the Department of Physics at ETH Zurich. The discussion will be moderated by Chris Luebkeman and Viktoria Österdahl from the Office of the President of ETH Zurich.

 

Date:

Thursday, 5 March 2026

Time:

17:30 – 18:30 Lecture + Q&A
18:30 – 19:30 Networking Reception

Location:

ETH Zurich, Main Building, Rämistrasse 101, 8092 Zürich

Lecture Hall: Audimax, HG F30

Door opens at 17:00

 

 

Speakers:

Pete Worden, Chairman, Breakthrough Prize Foundation; Executive Director, ‘Breakthrough Initiatives’

Sascha Quanz, Professor for Exoplanets at ETH Zurich and Principal Investigator of the LIFE Space Mission

Moderator: Chris Luebkeman, Head of the Strategic Foresight Hub, Office of the President, ETH Zurich

Moderator: Viktoria Österdahl, Stakeholder Engagement & Special Projects, Office of the President, ETH Zurich

 

 

Registration

Contact Details

We are committed to providing barrier-free access to events at ETH Zurich. If required, please tick the box below and we will get back to you.

Data Privacy

Our data privacy is published on a separate page.

Thank you for your registration. Sending the confirmation email may take a moment.

We are using a temporary cookie to streamline your experience. No personal data is stored and the cookie is removed once you complete your registration.

Your Browser Settings have Cookies Disabled

This site requires a temporary cookie to streamline your experience. No personal data is stored and the cookie will be removed once you complete your registration. Please enable cookies in your browser and refresh this page.