METI International, known simply as METI, is a non-profit research organization that creates and transmits interstellar messages to attempt to communicate with

extraterrestrial Extraterrestrial refers to any object or being beyond ( extra-) the planet Earth ( terrestrial). It is derived from the Latin words ''extra'' ("outside", "outwards") and ''terrestris'' ("earthly", "of or relating to the Earth"). It may be abbrevia ...

civilization A civilization (or civilisation) is any complex society characterized by the development of a state, social stratification, urbanization, and symbolic systems of communication beyond natural spoken language (namely, a writing system). C ...

s. In July 2015, the papers to form METI were filed by its founder and president, Douglas Vakoch. It is based in San Francisco, California.

Overview

METI targets nearby stars and also rethinks the nature of the messages to send. On October 16, 17, and 18, 2017, it sent a message consisting of a scientific and mathematical tutorial to the

red dwarf ''Red Dwarf'' is a British science fiction comedy franchise created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, which primarily consists of a television sitcom that aired on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999, and on Dave (TV channel), Dave since 2009, gaining a ...

Luyten's Star, just over 12 light years from Earth. The message was sent from a radio transmitter at the

EISCAT EISCAT (European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association) operates three incoherent scatter radar systems in Northern Scandinavia and Svalbard. The facilities are used to study the interaction between the Sun and the Earth as revealed by distu ...

research facility in

Tromsø Tromsø (, , ; se, Romsa ; fkv, Tromssa; sv, Tromsö) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø. Tromsø lies in Northern Norway. The municipality is the 21s ...

, Norway. One of METI's missions is to examine people's views of transmitting interstellar messages. METI builds an interdisciplinary community to design interstellar messages, within the context of the evolution of intelligence and language. In May 2016, it convened the meeting “The Intelligence Of SETI: Cognition And Communication In Extraterrestrial Intelligence” in Puerto Rico. In May 2018 in Los Angeles, it held “Language in the Cosmos” in conjunction with the International Space Development Conference. to examine the connection between

astrobiology Astrobiology, and the related field of exobiology, is an interdisciplinary scientific field that studies the origins, early evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. Astrobiology is the multidisciplinary field that investi ...

and

linguistics Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Lingu ...

. On March 22, 2017, it held a workshop in Paris examining the question "What is life?" from an extraterrestrial perspective. METI also conducts an optical search of extraterrestrial intelligence(SETI). Its optical observatory in Panama looks for laser pulses from advanced civilizations. It has examined anomalous stars like the nearby red dwarf star

Ross 128 Ross 128 is a red dwarf in the equatorial zodiac constellation of Virgo, near β Virginis. The apparent magnitude of Ross 128 is 11.13, which is too faint to be seen with the unaided eye. Based upon parallax measurements, the distance of ...

, as well as HD 164595, 94 light years from Earth. None of the searches has yielded evidence of artificial signals.

Criticism

American scientist and science-fiction author

David Brin Glen David Brin (born October 6, 1950) is an American scientist and author of science fiction. He has won the Hugo,Cixin Liu Liu Cixin (, pronounced ; born 23 June 1963) is a Chinese science fiction writer. He is a nine-time winner of China's Galaxy Award and has also received the 2015 Hugo Award for his novel '' The Three-Body Problem'' as well as the 2017 L ...

's '' Remembrance of Earth's Past'' exploring in fiction format the theory and some of its implications.

Notable members

Notable members of METI's Board of Directors and Advisory Council include: * Iván Almár, Consultant, Konkoly Observatory of the

Hungarian Academy of Sciences The Hungarian Academy of Sciences ( hu, Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, MTA) is the most important and prestigious learned society of Hungary. Its seat is at the bank of the Danube in Budapest, between Széchenyi rakpart and Akadémia utca. Its mai ...

, Hungary *

Setsuko Aoki Setsuko (written: or in hiragana) is a feminine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, later of Japan *, actress *, Japanese volleyball player *, Japanese actress and model *Setsuko Klossowska de Rola (born 1942), Japane ...

, Professor of Policy Management,

Keio University , mottoeng = The pen is mightier than the sword , type = Private research coeducational higher education institution , established = 1858 , founder = Yukichi Fukuzawa , endow ...

, Japan *, Ethics Advisor, Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), France *

Jerome H. Barkow Jerome H. Barkow is a Canadian anthropologist at Dalhousie University who has made important contributions to the field of evolutionary psychology. He received a BA in Psychology from Brooklyn College in 1964 and a PhD in Human Development from t ...

, Professor Emeritus of Social Anthropology,

Dalhousie University Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia, Canada, with three campuses in Halifax, a fourth in Bible Hill, and a second medical school campus in Saint John, New Brunswick. Dalhousie offer ...

, Canada * Nelly Ben Hayoun, Designer of Experiences, Nelly Ben Hayoun Studios, UK *

Lowry Burgess Lowry Burgess (1940 – January 28, 2020) was a conceptual and environmental artist and educator and was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, where he was a Distinguished Fellow in the STUDIO for Creative Inquiry. He also served on the Advi ...

, Professor of Art,

Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of its predecessors was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools; it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology ...

, USA * Kerri Chandler, Founder of Madhouse Records, USA * Nathaniel C. Comfort, Professor of History of Medicine,

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHUSOM) is the medical school of Johns Hopkins University, a private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1893, the School of Medicine shares a campus with the Johns Hopkins Hosp ...

, USA *

Paul Davies Paul Charles William Davies (born 22 April 1946) is an English physicist, writer and broadcaster, a professor in Arizona State University and Director of BEYOND: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science. He is affiliated with the Institu ...

, Regents' Professor and Director of the Beyond Center,

Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in t ...

, USA *

Steven J. Dick Steven J. Dick (born October 24, 1949, Evansville, Indiana) is an American astronomer, author, and historian of science most noted for his work in the field of astrobiology. Dick served as the Chief Historian for the National Aeronautics and Spac ...

, Former Chief Historian,

National Aeronautics and Space Administration The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeeding ...

(NASA), USA * David Dunér, Professor of History of Science and Ideas,

Lund University , motto = Ad utrumque , mottoeng = Prepared for both , established = , type = Public research university , budget = SEK 9 billion George Dvorsky, chair of the board,

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies The Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) is a technoprogressive think tank that seeks to "promote ideas about how technological progress can increase freedom, happiness, and human flourishing in democratic societies."Joseph R. ...

, Canada *

José Gabriel Funes José Gabriel Funes, S.J. (born January 31, 1963 in Córdoba) is an Argentine Jesuit priest and astronomer. He was the Director of the Vatican Observatory from August 19, 2006 until September 18, 2015, when he was succeeded by Pope Francis's appo ...

, Professor of Philosophy of Nature, Catholic University of Córdoba, Argentina *, Senior Research Astronomer,

Lunar and Planetary Laboratory The Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL) is a research center for planetary science located in Tucson, Arizona. It is also a graduate school, constituting the Department of Planetary Sciences at the University of Arizona. LPL is one of the wor ...

University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a public land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it was the first university in the Arizona Territory. ...

, USA * Chris Impey, Associate Dean, College of Science and Distinguished Professor of Astronomy,

, USA *

Mary Lee Jensvold Mary Lee Jensvold is a senior lecturer at Central Washington University. She was the Director of the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute ( CHCI) located on the campus of Central Washington University. CHCI was the home of the chimpanzee ...

, Director of the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute ( CHCI),

Central Washington University Central Washington University (CWU) is a public university in Ellensburg, Washington. Founded in 1891, the university consists of four divisions: the President's Division, Business and Financial Affairs, Operations, and Academic and Student Lif ...

, USA * James Kasting, Evan Pugh University Professor,

Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a public state-related land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvania. Founded in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania, Penn State becam ...

, USA * Arik Kershenbaum, Fellow of

Girton College Girton College is one of the 31 constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge. The college was established in 1869 by Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon as the first women's college in Cambridge. In 1948, it was granted full college statu ...

at the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

, and author of

The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy ''The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy. What Animals on Earth Reveal about Aliens – and Ourselves'' is a 2020 popular science book by the Cambridge University zoologist Arik Kershenbaum. It discusses the possible nature of life on other planet ...

, UK *, Researcher and Science Policy Consultant,

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. I ...

, Argentina *

Jeffrey A. Lockwood Jeffrey Alan Lockwood (born 1960) is an author, entomologist, and University of Wyoming professor of Natural Sciences and Humanities. He writes both nonfiction science books, as well as meditations. Lockwood is the recipient of both the Pushcart ...

, Professor of Natural Sciences and Humanities,

University of Wyoming The University of Wyoming (UW) is a public land-grant research university in Laramie, Wyoming. It was founded in March 1886, four years before the territory was admitted as the 44th state, and opened in September 1887. The University of Wyomin ...

, USA * Roger Malina, Arts and Technology Distinguished Chair and Professor of Physics,

University of Texas at Dallas The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD or UT Dallas) is a public research university in Richardson, Texas. It is one of the largest public universities in the Dallas area and the northernmost institution of the University of Texas system. It wa ...

, USA *

Lori Marino Lori Marino is the founder and executive director of The Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy and founder and President of the Whale Sanctuary Project. She was formerly a senior lecturer at Emory University for 20 years and faculty affiliate at the ...

, Founder and executive director, Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy, Inc., USA *

David Messerschmitt David G. Messerschmitt (born May 21, 1945) is an engineer and professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences in the UC Berkeley College of Engineering. He retired from ...

, Roger A. Strauch Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences,

University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant u ...

, USA * Anson Mount, Actor; known for his portrayal of fictional character, Cullen Bohannon, in the AMC

western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US * Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that i ...

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

series, '' Hell on Wheels'', and Captain Christopher Pike in season two of '' Star Trek: Discovery'' and '' Star Trek: Strange New Worlds'', USA *, Faculty of Life Sciences,

University of Vienna The University of Vienna (german: Universität Wien) is a public research university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world. With its long and rich h ...

, Austria *

Alexander Ollongren Alexander Ollongren (born November 9, 1928) is a professor emeritus at Leiden University. He serves on the Advisory Council of METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence). Personal life Alexander Ollongren was born on November 9, 1928 on a c ...

, Professor Emeritus at Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS), Leiden University, Netherlands *

Serpil Oppermann Serpil is a common feminine Turkish given name. It may refer to: Given name * Serpil Çapar (born 1981), Turkish handball player * Serpil Hamdi Tüzün, Turkish male football coach * Serpil İskenderoğlu (born 1982), Turkish handball player * S ...

, Past President, EASCLE (European Association for the Study of Literature, Culture, and the Environment), Turkey * Irene Pepperberg, Research Associate,

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...

, USA * Ted Peters, Research Professor Emeritus in Systematic Theology and Ethics,

Graduate Theological Union The Graduate Theological Union (GTU) is a consortium of eight private independent American theological schools and eleven centers and affiliates. Seven of the theological schools are located in Berkeley, California. The GTU was founded in 1962 ...

(GTU), USA * Stephen G. Post, Director, Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics,

Stony Brook University Stony Brook University (SBU), officially the State University of New York at Stony Brook, is a public research university in Stony Brook, New York. Along with the University at Buffalo, it is one of the State University of New York syste ...

, USA * Ian Roberts, Professor of Linguistics,

, UK *

Holmes Rolston III Holmes Rolston III (born November 19, 1932) is a philosopher who is University Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Colorado State University. He is best known for his contributions to environmental ethics and the relationship between sci ...

, University Distinguished Professor and Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus, Colorado State University, USA * Vandana Singh, Professor and Chair of Physics and Earth Sciences,

Framingham State University Framingham State University (Framingham State or FSU) is a public university in Framingham, Massachusetts. It offers undergraduate programs as well as graduate programs, including MBA, MEd, and MS. History As the first secretary of the newly ...

, USA * Susan Stryker, Associate Professor of Gender and Women's Studies and Director of the Institute for LGBT Studies,

, USA *

John Traphagan John Willis Traphagan is a mystery novelist and Professor of Human Dimensions of Organizations, Religious Studies, and Anthropology and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin and a Visiting Professor at the Center f ...

, Professor of Religious Studies and Anthropology and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Fellow,

University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1883 and is the oldest institution in the University of Texas System. With 40,916 undergraduate students, 11,075 ...

, USA * Douglas Vakoch, President of METI, USA *

Ariel Waldman Ariel Waldman is an explorer, creator and writer specializing in the intersection of science, space, technology and art. She describes herself as "on a mission to make science and space exploration disruptively accessible." Waldman is the global ...

, Global Director,

Science Hack Day Science Hack Day is a hack day specifically for "making weird, silly or serious things with science". The first was organized by Jeremy Keith and held at the London offices of The Guardian newspaper over the weekend 19/20 June 2010. The event w ...

, USA

References

External links

METI Website
{{authority control Search for extraterrestrial intelligence Astrobiology Space organizations Science and technology in the San Francisco Bay Area Research institutes in the San Francisco Bay Area Science and technology in California Research institutes in California Non-profit organizations based in California Non-profit organizations based in San Francisco Organizations based in San Francisco Organizations based in California Charities based in California

Overview

Criticism

Notable members

See also

References

External links