Abstract EANA2025-42

                                                     Astrobiology – A Tool for Introducing Science to Non-Scientists

 

                                                                             Joseph Gale* and Amri Wandel

 

                                                            The Institute of Life Sciences and The Racah Institute

                                                                  The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

                                                                                                                                                                            *gale.joe@mail.huji.ac.il

Non-scientists usually have a poor understanding of science; this today is platitudinous. However, many humanities teachers and authors also recognize this and seek to introduce basic science to their students.

Astrobiology can serve as an attractive tool if set out at a level understandable for those with no basic science background. Today, the search for life outside of Earth, within the Solar system and beyond, is a popular subject in the communications media. The recent reports on the James Webb Telescope are typical of the popular interest, and also of the lack of understanding of the basic problems involved, such as time and distance.

 

The advantage of Astrobiology for introducing science will be obvious to all attending this meeting. It draws on many different subjects, from basic mathematics, physics, astronomy, statistics, Earth sciences, and human and general biology, with extrapolations to today’s compelling Earth problems, such as cosmic factors affecting climate and climate change.

 

We have addressed this challenge with a text designed for college and university level Humanities students* that could be adapted for high school children and non-science-educated audiences, who would choose sections and subjects they find of interest.  It has been based upon a popular elective course, given by one of us (A.W.) to Humanities students, and on talks and articles prepared for lay audiences.

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*Wandel A. and Gale J. Life in Space: Astrobiology for Non-Scientists. Springer Nature, 2025, ISBN 978 3 031 64638 6.