SETIcon

{{short description|Public conventions on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence}}

{{Infobox convention

| name = SETIcon

| logo =

| image = 200px|

| caption = Promotional poster designed by Paul Duffield

| status = Defunct

| genre = Astronomy
Astrobiology
Science Fiction

| venue = Hyatt Regency

| location = Santa Clara, CA

| country = USA

| first = 2010

| last =

| organizer = SETI Institute

| filing =

| attendance = About 600 in 2012

| website = {{url|http://seticon.com/ }}

}}

SETIcon was a public convention organized by the SETI Institute and held twice in Santa Clara, California. It was an interdisciplinary conference, with talks focusing on a wide range of issues related to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). The programs included panels with prominent scientists from NASA and SETI; talks by science fiction writers, artists, and actors; and panels to explore controversial issues and compare perspectives.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/events/2010/08.13.10.html |title=SETIcon conference in Santa Clara, CA |publisher=NASA |date=2010-08-13 |accessdate=2012-07-09}} The sessions were non-technical and meant to increase awareness, interest, and funding for the SETI Institute. The convention attracted professional scientists, educators, space enthusiasts, and science fiction fans. Astronomical tattoos were not uncommon among attendees.{{cite web|last=Boyle |first=Rebecca |url=http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-06/planetary-spit-swapping-dark-energy-singularity-and-other-bizarro-science-seticon |title=At SETIcon 2012: Planetary Spit-Swapping, Dark Energy As a Singularity and Other Bizarro Space Science |publisher=Popular Science |date=2012-06-25 |accessdate=2012-07-09}}

The first SETIcon took place on 13–15 August 2010 and drew about 1,000 people.{{cite web|url=http://www.tedprize.org/seticon-%E2%80%93-an-idea-worth-spreading/ |first=Jill|last=Tarter |title=SETIcon – An Idea Worth Spreading |publisher=TED Prize |date=2010-08-30 |accessdate=2012-07-09}}{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconvalleyblog.de/en/blog/2010/08/17/seticon-2010-suche-nach-ausserirdischen-leben-bei-yahoo/ |title=SetIcon 2010 - Part 1: Search for extraterrestrial life close Yahoo |work=The Silicon Valley experiment |publisher=Siliconvalleyblog.de |date= |accessdate=2012-07-09}} It commemorated the 25th anniversary of the SETI Institute, the 50th anniversary of SETI, and the 80th birthday of Frank Drake, the radio astronomer who started Project Ozma and pioneered the SETI program.{{cite web|first=David|last=Perlman |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Seekers-of-alien-life-gather-for-SETIcon-3178637.php |title=Seekers of alien life gather for SETIcon |publisher=SFGate |date=2010-08-07 |accessdate=2012-07-09}} Speakers included scientists Frank Drake, Alex Filippenko, Seth Shostak, Andrew Fraknoi, David Morrison and Jill Tarter; author Robert J. Sawyer; professional skeptic Phil Plait; graphic artist Paul Duffield; actor Tim Russ; and musician Mickey Hart.{{cite web|url=http://cs.astronomy.com/asy/b/astronomy/archive/2010/07/21/get-set-for-seticon.aspx |title=Get set for SETIcon |publisher=Astronomy Magazine |date=July 21, 2010 |first=Bill |last=Andrews |accessdate=2012-07-09}} During one of the panels, Seth Shostak said he expected proof of extraterrestrial life to be found within 25 years. "Young people in the audience, I think there's a really good chance you're going to see this happen."{{cite web|last=Moskowitz |first=Clara |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/38727371 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029160254/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/38727371 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |title=Proof of aliens could come within 25 years |publisher=NBC News |date=2010-08-16 |accessdate=2012-07-09}}

SETIcon II was held on 22–24 June 2012 and drew about 600 people and 60 speakers, including Bill Nye.{{cite web|url=http://setiquest.org/forum/topic/seticon-ii-report |title=SETIcon II report |publisher=setiQuest |date= |accessdate=2012-07-09}}{{cite web|last=Sterling |first=Bruce |url=https://www.wired.com/beyond_the_beyond/2012/06/seticon/ |title=SETIcon |publisher=Wired |date=22 June 2012 |accessdate=2012-07-09}} Recent findings from NASA's Kepler mission fueled much of the discussion—between 2009 and 2012 the experiment detected about 2,300 new exoplanets, making the discovery of intelligent extraterrestrial life increasingly plausible.{{cite web|last=Yirka |first=Bob |url=http://phys.org/news/2012-06-alien-life-searchers-conference-seticon.html |title=Alien life searchers conference SETICon 2 held in Santa Clara |publisher=Phys.org |date=25 June 2012 |accessdate=2012-07-09}} Among the returning speakers was Alex Filippenko, who during a panel called "Did the Big Bang Require a Divine Spark?" argued against the necessity of God as the first cause of the Big Bang.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/06/25/big-bang-didnt-need-god-to-start-universe-researchers-say/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626115210/http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/06/25/big-bang-didnt-need-god-to-start-universe-researchers-say/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 26, 2012 |title=The Big Bang Didn't Need God to Start Universe, Researchers Say |publisher=Fox News |date=25 June 2012 |accessdate=2012-07-09}} He and Seth Shostak said that the laws of physics, specifically quantum fluctuations, can enable the universe to come into being spontaneously.{{cite web|last=O'Neill |first=Ian |url=http://news.discovery.com/space/the-universe-no-god-required-120626.html |title=The Universe: No God Required |publisher=Discovery News |date=2012-06-26 |accessdate=2012-07-09}} The "divine spark", Filippenko said, is whatever created the laws of physics; since science can't tell us what caused the divine spark, it is best to save a step and leave it at the laws of physics. Shostak added: "So, it could be that this universe is merely the science fair project of a kid in another universe. I don't know how that affects your theological leanings, but it is something to consider."{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-07-03/news/32524023_1_universe-physics-spontaneous-creation |title=A Law Unto Itself |publisher=The Economic Times |date=2012-07-03 |accessdate=2012-07-09 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003194119/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-07-03/news/32524023_1_universe-physics-spontaneous-creation |archivedate=2015-10-03 |url-status=dead}}