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Swan Hellenic announces scientists for SH Vega's SETI Institute Explore Space at Sea series 2025

Swan Hellenic announced details of its Explore Space at Sea series in partnership with the SETI Institute, which began life with NASA’s Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence program (SETI) in the eighties.

Mary Bond, Editor in Chief

October 16, 2024

2 Min Read
SH Vega will feature Explore Space at Sea Series in partnership with the SETI InstitutePHOTO: Swan Hellenic

They will share insights into the history and latest discoveries in astronomy, astrophysics, astrobiology and planetary science, as well as the quest to find other forms of life within and beyond our solar system.

Nine SH Vega cruises

The 2025 series will feature nine renowned SETI Institute scientists, one per cruise all on SH Vega sailings, and each with their own perspective.

Accompanying guests on their expeditions and delivering thought-provoking lectures aboard, the SETI Institute scientists also mix and socialize with guests throughout their voyage.

Dana Backman

Astrophysicist Dana Backman, director of the NASA Astronomy Activation Ambassadors Program, will sail on the Chile to Peru voyage in March/April next year. Lecture topics will cover how Antarctica's unique conditions make it a prime location for planetary research, examining historical periods when Earth was completely or nearly frozen and understanding the factors that cause drastic changes in planetary environments.

Derek Kozel

Radio astronomer and engineer Derek Kozel, principal investigator for the GNU Radio Project will accompany SH Vega’s Peru to Panama sailing in April, will discuss using satellite technology to monitor Earth's environment and natural phenomena and tracing the development of communication technologies on ships, from early radio to modern systems.

Stephen Cramer

An expert in bioinorganic chemistry and biophysics Stephen Cramer, advanced light source Professor Emeritus at UC Davis will be on a Caribbean cruise including the Belize Barrier Reef, the ruins of Tikal and Caye Caulker, over 7 nights. Dr. Cramer’s lecture topics will be cover what the organisms at home in the world’s deepest hydrothermal vent sites and other extreme environments, and what they teach for finding life elsewhere in the universe and an introduction to synchrotron light sources and their applications in scientific research.

Life in the universe

On the 11 night Halifax to Reykjavik voyage Pamela Harman, director of education at the SETI Institute will provide an overview of the SETI Institute’s mission and the study of life in the universe while Madhulika Guhathakurta, a leading scientist spearheading space missions at NASA will accompany a June sailing from Reykjavik along the Norwegian coast to Longyearbyen over 11 nights, lecturing on the science behind solar eclipses and their impact on cultures throughout history; and a mission to study the sun up close.

Other scientists include Joe Spitale, an expert in planetary science and orbital dynamics; Bill Diamond, president and CEO of the SETI Institute; Steve Croft, astrophysicist and educator at the SETI Institute and Rosalba Bonaccorsi, research scientist at the SETI Institute & NASA Ames.

Read more about:

Swan Hellenic

About the Author

Mary Bond

Editor in Chief

Mary Bond is Group Director, Seatrade Cruise a division within Informa Markets and responsible for the Seatrade portfolio of global cruise events, print and online cruise publishing.

Mary is also the publisher and editor-in-chief of Seatrade Cruise News and Seatrade Cruise Review magazine.

Mary has worked in the shipping industry for 39 years, first for Lloyd’s Register of Shipping before joining Seatrade’s editorial team in 1985.

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