Location: Centre Stage
7:15pm, 8:45pm

Join SETI Institute (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) and the Center for Inquiry Canada and step into a 20-minute science mixer where you become Galactic Councils, weighing the probabilities in the Drake Equation and poking holes in the universe-sized puzzle known as the Fermi Paradox. 

Armed with playful prompt cards, each team debates existing theories, invents new ones, and defends its verdict before the room. No slideshows, just lively, hands-on discovery that sparks curiosity, laughter, and rigorous reasoning. 

Co-created by the SETI Institute and the Center for Inquiry Canada, this pop-up experience slots perfectly into Science World After Dark: zero tech, high engagement, fully replicable, and laser-aligned with SETI’s mission to ignite public wonder about life beyond Earth. 

7:15pm - Build Your Own Odds of Alien Life: Decoding the Drake Equation 

How many stars harbour planets? How often does life turn intelligent? In this fast-paced micro-workshop you’ll join a “Galactic Council,” tweak the classic Drake Equation variables, and watch the probability of cosmic company swing from vanishingly small to “they’re everywhere!” Bring your curiosity (and a sense of play) as we crunch the numbers, debate the assumptions, and discover just how much we still don’t know about life among the stars — all in under 20 minutes. 

8:45pm - OK... Where Is Everybody? Fermi Paradox Showdown: 

The universe is ancient and immense, so… why haven’t we heard a single “hello” from ET? Step into an idea-sparring arena where teams weigh five headline-grabbing explanations - from the Great Filter to the Zoo Hypothesis... and craft daring new theories of their own. You’ll argue, vote, and maybe even invent the next viral answer to the Fermi Paradox before the clock runs out. Expect spirited debate, quick laughs, and a fresh perspective on our place in the cosmos.