Is there life in space?
09/22/2026The search for extraterrestrial intelligence is the focus of a public event organised by the Schelling Forum on 6 October. The guest speaker will be Hakan Kayal, an expert from Würzburg.
The question of whether humanity is alone in the universe has preoccupied us for centuries. Religions and popular culture have each found their own answers to this question. But how do the natural and technical sciences view the possibility of life in space? Is there even intelligent life beyond Earth? And if so, what might it look like? Would we even recognise it? And what sophisticated scientific methods can be used to search for extraterrestrial life?
Hakan Kayal is one of the world’s leading researchers into so-called Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs). In his lecture, he provides insights into interdisciplinary research on extraterrestrial intelligence and his scientific approach to unexplained celestial phenomena. He will then be in conversation with Dr Theresa Palm, an editor at the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
The event will take place on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm. The venue is the Schelling-Forum, Klinikstraße 3, in Würzburg.
Speaker
Hakan Kayal is Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg. He heads the Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Extraterrestrial Studies (IFEX), which focuses on research projects relating to natural sciences and technology and their innovative applications on Earth and in space. He places particular emphasis on research into UAPs and extraterrestrial intelligence.
Moderator
Dr Theresa Palm is a journalist and holds a PhD in physics. Following her journalism training at the Henri Nannen School, she worked as an editor at GEO and P.M. Since 2023, she has been reporting on physics and space as an editor in the Science section of the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Registration: Attendance is free of charge, but registration via the registration portal is required .
Contact: schelling-forum@badw.de
