–The World Premiere of ALIEN ENCOUNTERS: THE MESSAGE debuts on SCIENCE Tuesday, March 13, at 10:00 PM ET/PT  ALIEN ENCOUNTERS: THE ARRIVAL PREMIERES on Tuesday, March 20 at 10:00 PM ET/PT–

ALIEN ENCOUTNERS brings together renowned experts including Nick Sagan and SETI Institute’s Dr. Jill Tarter to explore how alien life might communicate with Earth. Some of the world’s leading scientists explain the scientific, cultural and psychological effects a first contact with aliens would have on humans. ALIEN ENCOUNTERS is a part of SCIENCE’s Are We Alone? initiative happening the entire month of March.

Episode Descriptions:

Part 1- The Message premieres on Tuesday, March 13 at 10 PM (ET/PT)

Part 2- The Arrival premieres on Tuesday, March 20 at 10 PM (ET/PT)

In two dramatic hours, ALIEN ENCOUNTERS lays out a plausible hypothetical scenario for a first contact event. What would really happen if we got a message from space? How will humans react when we learn that a message from a distant technology or a spacecraft is on its way to Earth? Will humans learn from aliens, or become colonial subjects? Some of the world’s leading astrophysicists, astrobiologists, and sci-fi writers help unravel the scientific, cultural and psychological impact of this world-changing global event. This show is made in cooperation with The SETI Institute which was founded in 1984 and had renowned astrophysicist Carl Sagan as one of its Board of Trustee Members. Carl’s son Nick is now following in his father’s footsteps wondering, “How will we meet our galactic neighbors?”