| Personal background |
|---|
| I am a retired elementary school teacher who has also done some teaching at the university level. Currently I am testing and evaluating children for giftedness, working with principals on literacy programs and working with faculties on improving schools. When I was teaching fifth grade students, I was able to take them to nearby JPL/NASA frequently and even went to Goldstone to see the giant radiotelescope receivers. While at Goldstone, the children were delighted to be told the story of how, early on, one of the huge circular receivers bent near the ground (during the triangulation process) and squashed a soft-drink truck. Soda pop and cans flew all over, and the truck was toast. The walls were so thick on the building housing the receiver, that the deliveryman inside wasn't able to hear anything that was going on! The children appreciated this touch of humanity in such a sophisticated, scientific endeavor. Fencing around the radiotelescopes currently prohibits such a thing happening again! |
| Thoughts about SETI and SETI@home |
|---|
It would be surprising to discover that extraterrestrial life doesn't exist. It would be most egocentric and implausible not to think that somewhere, somehow in the vast universe(s) conditions exist to support some form of life. With the immense distances and variables in the search, it is unnerving to think that we might miss it. However, if we are lucky enough to discover life, think of the benefits! One of the basic drives of humans is the need to learn new things, and the potential for new concepts and understandings is tremendous through SETI. Hopefully, we will discover knowledge that will help us grow and flourish. We will, however, run the risk of certain dangers, certainly that of damage to health...ours and theirs at first contact and risks that could put human life in danger in the process of reaching into the universe. Reaching out and beyond ourselves won't stop, it is our nature. We just need to consider processes carefully, then go for it!
It gives me great pleasure to be a small part of this great project by running the SETI@home program. I think the spinoffs from the investigations will effect us in ways we cannot image at this time. |
| Your feedback on this profile |
|---|
| Recommend this profile for User of the Day: |
I like this profile |
| Alert administrators to an offensive profile: |
I do not like this profile |
|
| Account data |
View |
| Team |
None |
|
