We will delve into the fascinating intersection of scientific exploration and Jewish thought in "The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and its Religious Implications." As modern science continues to push the boundaries of our knowledge, particularly in the quest for extraterrestrial life, we are compelled to place these upcoming discoveries into a religious context, and to ask “How does the potential discovery of extraterrestrial life impact the foundational beliefs of Jewish theology?” This class will approach the topic of extraterrestrial life from a Jewish perspective. I will present the current status and future ambitions of the astrophysical search for life in other planetary systems and together, we will discuss the intricate confluence of this deep scientific pursuit with our faith.

Taught by Dr. Evgenya Shkolnik, a Professor of Astrophysics at the School of Earth and Space Exploration and an Associate Director of the Interplanetary Initiative at Arizona State University. She is a Distinguished Visiting Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and an Associate Scientist at Harvard University. She is an expert on exoplanets and stars, including the Sun. She uses telescopes both on the ground and in space to answer questions involving the evolution and habitability of planetary systems. She is the principal investigator of the NASA SPARCS space mission, a member of NASA Astrobiology Institute, and serves on several Science & Technology Advisory Committees for NASA.