Seth Shostak is a senior astronomer at the SETI Institute.  He is well-known as an advocate for better public understanding of science and a major figure in the SETI community.  He has been involved in a number of debates of interest to the SSoCIA members, most recently arguing in favor of attempts to message extraterrestrials (METI).

 

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Simon Conway-Morris is a paleontologist and astrobiologist at the University of Cambridge and fellow of the Royal Society.  He has been active in several public debates concerning the relationship between science and religion, taking strong positions against creationism and reductionism.  His 2003 book, Life’s Solutions, argues that the emergence of human-like intelligence is a near inevitability on worlds with the right conditions.