IMMEDIATE RELEASE : 4-25-05 CONTACT: NATURAL SCIENCE 538-6227

SILVER CITY—Dr. George F. Benedict, Senior Research Scientist at the

McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin, will be presenting a public lecture titled “Nine Steps to Extraterrestrial Life” on Wednesday, April 27, at 7 p.m. in the WNMU Global Resource Center Auditorium. His presentation will include many applications to the various sciences including astronomy, biology, geology, as well as

applications to human history, and contemporary political issues.

Dr. Benedict, A Senior Research Scientist at the University of Texas in Austin became a member of the Hubble Space Telescope Astrometry Science Team in 1977, and is currently the Principle Investigator of the Space Interferometry Mission Mass-Luminosity Key Project. Recently his team has applied Hubble Space Telescope astrometry to stars thought to host extrasolar planets and have discovered the lowest mass extrasolar planet now known.

The lecture is sponsored by the Western New Mexico University Natural Sciences Department and the Harlow Shapley Visiting Lectureships in Astronomy Program.

For more information, please contact the Natural Sciences Department at 538-6227.

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