Sara Seager, named among Time Magazine’s 25 Most Influential People in Space, visits Western University this week to deliver the 10th annual Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (CPSX) Distinguished Public Lecture. 

Seager, a planetary scientist and astrophysicist, is a pioneer in the vast and unknown world of exoplanets, which are planets that orbit stars other than the sun. Her ground-breaking research ranges from the detection of exoplanet atmospheres and innovative theories about life on other worlds to the development of novel space mission concepts. 

Dubbed an “astronomical Indiana Jones,” Seager will discuss her quest for the Holy Grail of astrophysics – the discovery of a true Earth twin – at the CPSX Distinguished Public Lecture on Wednesday, October 8 at 7 p.m. The free event will be held at the Paul Davenport Theatre, Talbot College. An Earth twin is an exoplanet with environmental conditions similar to those found on Earth.

The Toronto-born Seager earned her PhD from Harvard University and is now the Class of 1941 Professor of Planetary Science and Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A MacArthur Fellow, Seager was awarded a $625,000 “Genius Grant” in 2013. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Jeff Renaud, Senior Media Relations Officer, 519-661-2111, ext. 85165, jrenaud9@uwo.ca, @jeffrenaud99

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