Special event

June 19, 2025
17:00 CET, University of Bern

The next 30 years from the discovery of the first exoplanet

Public talks followed by a panel discussion

The field of Exoplanet science is less than thirty years old, but the discovery that there are planets orbiting stars other than our Sun has revolutionized the way we see the Universe and our place in it. Since the first discovery, almost 6000 exoplanets have been found.

ISSI takes this opportunity to bring the very latest news to the public by hosting two lectures followed a panel discussion with the scientific experts to debate fundamental open questions and the new insights into our search for life beyond the solar system.

Programme

17:00 Welcome remarks
Antonella Nota, ISSI Bern, Switzerland
Renato Krpoun, Swiss Space Office
Michele Weber, Pro ISSI Association, Switzerland

17:15 Billions of planets in the Milky Way – 30 years of discoveries and new
challenges – Michel Mayor, University of Geneva, Switzerland

17:45 A cosmic paradigm transformation from a heliocentric perspective to the
unveiling of many worlds – Doug Lin, UC Santa Cruz, USA

18:15 ‘The Next 30 Years’ panel discussion
Didier Queloz, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Sara Seager, MIT, USA
Jonathan Lunine, Cornell University, USA
Laura Kreidberg, Max Planck Inst. for Astronomy, Germany
and Moderator Thomas Zurbuchen, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

18:45 ESA Science Missions and the Search for an Earth-like World (remotely)
– Carole Mundell, ESA Director of Science

19:15 Reception with apéro riche

Master of Ceremonies Willy Benz will lead through the event.

Search

Special event

The next 30 years from the discovery of the first exoplanet

Programme

Flyer