Get A Degree In The Search For ET

If you believe in UFOs, extraterrestrial life and the search for intelligence beyond earth, then you’re an ideal candidate for a degree in "Astrobiology.” The University of Glamorgan in Wales is offering what is believed to be Great Britain’s first degree in the search for extraterrestrial life. Six students have already signed up for the program, which entails attending courses in "Exploring the Sky," "Vertebrate Zoology," "Science and the Media," and "Life in the Universe," the university said. Astrophysicist Rhodri Evans told the BBC, "There is a crisis of the number of people staying in science. We think astrobiology can be used to get people excited about science.” To that end, the university will be making a tour of schools in South Wales to get students interested in not only astrobiology but science in general. The three-year degree, sponsored by the school’s Centre for Astronomy and Science Education, will study hard scientific data such as the possibility of finding organic life on Saturn’s moon Titan as well as popular films like Steven Spielberg’s "ET” and "War of the Worlds,” "K-Pax” and, one would presume, others like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and "Starman.” Course leader Professor Mark Brake told Agence France Presse, "Peoples' interest in quite serious and scientific sober issues is often sparked by popular culture." Dr. Evans said, "Science fiction is one of the main areas where the whole issue of life beyond the earth - either going and finding that life or that life coming to earth - is discussed. She added that, for example, "The wonderful book and film 'Contact,' which was written by Carl Sagan, who was a world-famous astrophysicist, contains a lot of very important science in it, even though it is a fictitious story." No word on whether students will get to view the new, highly anticipated "Star Wars” boxed set.