Simon Conway Morris

Tag: Simon Conway Morris

Catholic Conference to Discuss Extraterrestrials, AI and Life ‘Beyond Human’

May 3, 2021
ExoNews Editor

Article by Christopher Plain April 19, 2021 (thedebrief.org)

• The Society of Catholic Scientists has scheduled their 2021 SCS conference entitled: “E.T., A.I., and Minds Beyond the Human” to be live-streamed June 4th thru 6th from Washington D.C. A full range of education and theology experts will give thirteen talks, and half of the talks are going to be about extraterrestrial life. “There’s going to be talks by some big experts on [the ET] subject,” says society president Dr Stephen Barr.

• According to Dr Barr, the conference’s goal is to address the perceived stigma that science and religion don’t mix. “[T]here are many people out there who think that science and faith are incompatible,” he said. “I think if people see that there’s a large organization of a large number of scientists, [who are] devout, practicing Catholics, I think it has a witness value and is stronger evidence for people in the science department.”

• “There’s a lot of excitement because in recent years, astronomers have discovered large numbers of planets orbiting other nearby stars,” said Dr Barr. “They could learn a lot about these planets, how far they are from the star, how big the planet is, even things about the chemistry of the planet in some cases.”

• The speakers scheduled to talk about non-human intelligence include Astrophysicist Jonathan Lunine, director of the Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science; Dr. Karin Öberg, professor of Astronomy and Director of Undergraduate Studies at Harvard University; Simon Conway Morris, who is the chair of Evolutionary Palaeobiology at the University of Cambridge; and Christopher Baglow, Director of the Science and Religion Initiative of the McGrath Institute for Church Life of the University of Notre Dame.

• [Editor’s Note] See a preview of the Genomics and Human Engineering discussion with Dr. Laurel Coons below.

The Society of Catholic Scientists has scheduled their 2021 SCS conference, and this year’s topic is literally out of this world.

Titled “E.T., A.I., and Minds Beyond the Human,” the conference will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C. from June 4th thru 6th. It will feature a full range of education and theology experts covering topics related to the theme.

“There’ll be 13 talks,” said Dr. Stephen Barr, president of the Society of Catholic Scientists, in an interview with the Catholic News Agency (CNA).” Half of the talks are going to be about extraterrestrial life, and there’s going to be talks by some big experts on that subject.”

Among the speakers scheduled to talk about the entire range of possible non-human intelligence are Astrophysicist Jonathan Lunine, director of the Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science; Dr. Karin Öberg, professor of Astronomy and Director of Undergraduate Studies at Harvard University; Simon Conway Morris, who is the chair of Evolutionary Palaeobiology at the University of Cambridge; and Christopher Baglow, Director of the Science and Religion Initiative of the McGrath Institute for Church Life of the University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Laurel Coons on Genomics and Human Engineering (‘The Debrief’ YouTube)

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. ExoNews.org distributes this material for the purpose of news reporting, educational research, comment and criticism, constituting Fair Use under 17 U.S.C § 107. Please contact the Editor at ExoNews with any copyright issue.

Cambridge University Scientist Says Aliens Are Real & Look Like Humans

December 11, 2017
ExoNews Editor

by Joe Martino November 24, 2017 (collective-evolution.com)

Cambridge University professor and evolutionary biologist, Simon Conway Morris, believes aliens are not only real, but look just like us, and notes how interesting it is that we have yet to find or come in contact with human-like beings given the number of Earth-like planets we have discovered so far.
Says Morris, “…given the number of potential planets that we now have good reason to think exist, even if the dice only come up the right way every one in 100 throws, that still leads to a very large number of intelligences scattered around, that are likely to be similar to us.”
“More problematic is that many of these solar systems far, far pre-date our solar system. They would have, in principle, a major head start of hundreds of millions, if not billions, of years.”
“We shouldn’t be alone but… all the evidence suggests we are. Maybe [aliens] are hiding.” “My suspicion is we have only begun to scratch at the surface of reality.”
Can we take Professor Morris seriously? Given the amount of evidence, case studies, and experiences that have been documented, it’s not at all unreasonable to believe that aliens not only exist, but could be among us already.
The topic of extraterrestrials secretly interacting with humans is so widely discussed now that it’s only a matter of time before big answers will come.
[Editor’s Note] The masthead graphic above is a photo of an alleged over-sized, but human-looking, extraterrestrial who interacted with a group of Italians during the 1950’s, known as “The Friendship Case”.

Evolutionary biologist Simon Conway Morris has shared his belief that aliens are not only real, but look just like us, and notes how interesting it is that we have yet to find or come in contact with human-like beings, given the number of Earth-like planets we have discovered so far.

Professor Conway Morris is best known for his study on the Cambrian explosion, which saw a sudden evolutionary burst of complex animal life occur around 542 million years ago. Morris, a man of both religion and science, has also been challenging popular scientific theories with an open mind for quite some time. He feels that many theories, when pulled together, can help explain how we all got here, but on their own paint only an incomplete picture.

Given his history, it’s unsurprising that Morris also delves into the ET realm. He feels that because many of the planets we have discovered are similar to our own, harbouring the distinct possibility for life, it is likely life has already emerged: “I would argue that in any habitable zone that doesn’t boil or freeze, intelligent life is going to emerge, because intelligence is convergent. One can say with reasonable confidence that the likelihood of something analogous to a human evolving is really pretty high. And given the number of potential planets that we now have good reason to think exist, even if the dice only come up the right way every one in 100 throws, that still leads to a very large number of intelligences scattered around, that are likely to be similar to us.”

He continues: “Fermi’s paradox seems to be coming rather sharply into focus. If I’m on the right track then the likelihood of intelligence is evolving and actively engaging in some sort of transgalatic expeditions doesn’t seem to be completely beyond the realm of possibility.”

“What Fermi didn’t know when he asked that famous question was that the number of Earth-like planets is absolutely gigantic now. More problematic is that many of these solar systems far, far pre-date our solar system. They would have, in principle, a major head start of hundreds of millions, if not billions, of years.”

“The problem is exceedingly acute: we shouldn’t be alone but, famous last words, all the evidence suggests we are. Maybe [aliens] are hiding, the Arthur C Clarke idea, or as Stephen Baxter mischievously suggested we live in a virtual world. I don’t honestly know. My suspicion is we have only begun to scratch at the surface of reality, for want of a better word.”

But are they hiding? There’s been so much evidence of “someone else” that the statement “maybe they’re hiding” seems misplaced.

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE