Capital Science Evening Lecture - Life on Other Planets: Finding My Place in the Universe

With nearly 6,000 planets discovered beyond the Solar System, humankind is closer than it has ever been to answering the question: “Are we alone in the universe?” And yet, much remains to be done. Many factors and processes can affect planetary climate and habitability, and their effects must be understood to accurately determine a planet's potential for hosting life. Professor Aomawa Shields describes the methods her research group uses to quantify the effects on planetary climate of a range of factors that are currently unconstrained by observations. She shares recent results from this work using a hierarchy of computer models and discuss the implications of these results for planetary habitability and the identification of those planets most capable of supporting life. Sharing excerpts from her new memoir, Life on Other Planets, Shields speaks about her struggle to fit in as a Black woman in astronomy, her nontraditional career path, and the holistic ways of working soft and resting more that were instrumental to finding her place in the universe, and thriving both personally and professionally.